THINK! - 4 - I See You - Archives
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- Written by Marian Moore
KRYSAN
THE WELLBEING CONSULTANCY
T H I N K (!)
(Previous articles are to be found in the Archives)
SOCRATES
To find yourself, think for yourself.
'I See You'
by
MARIAN MOORE
RE: JAMES CAMERON'S SCI-FI EPIC 'AVATAR'
Click and enjoy a taste of good things to come ...
I'd better explain ...
Prompted by the following words from our old friend Louis Alloro, I watched the film Avatar at the weekend and was impressed. Consider Louis' words as he links the message of the film to Positive Psychology or the Science of Happiness. Here's what he has to say on interconnectedness.
The film demonstrates the power of interconnectedness. One of the most fascinating scenes shows hundreds of Na'vi people linked together physically, arm to arm, with a brilliant white light radiating between them. This same light is shown throughout the planet's natural world, as if to suggest a oneness, a peace, and the positive evolution inherent in the interconnectedness of all beings.
In a nutshell, the film challenges prejudice. I'll link it now to the second module of the Open University course, Philosophy and the Human Situation. The module is called 'Humans and Other Animals' and it is about prejudice. If you are at all curious to learn about something called 'speciesism' and how it is connected to Avatar, then read on. To clarify the concept, here's a simple definition,
'Speciesism' means hurting others because they are members of another species.
The word was invented in 1970 by Richard Ryder to draw attention to the irrationality of racism and sexism, all being forms of discrimination based upon physical appearances. They overlook the one great similarity between all races, sexes and species – our capacity to suffer pain and distress. For Richard Ryder, pain (in its broadest sense) is the only evil and therefore forms the foundation for all morality. Think about modern methods of factory farming in the light of this, and then try the following exercise for size:
(1) give three good reasons why we should be vegetarians, and (2) give three good reasons why we should not be vegetarians!
It's all about ethics and morality. You'll know about the animal liberation movement from which sprang ideas around animal rights and equality. I'm not a vegetarian but, after reading the arguments for this stance thrown up by the course, I am at least tempted to reconsider and convert to a new way of life. In case you were wondering what 'doing philosophy' is all about, consider now the powerful and persuasive argument at the root of things, ie, that animals exist in their own right and have the capacity to suffer pain and distress just as we do. You may or may not agree, but it's the job of the philosopher to examine the premises on which assumptions such as this are based, all the while asking questions as to their validity, truth and soundness - or the reverse.
I know that many of you non-vegetarians will have been quick to defend the practice of meat eating. You may be of the opinion that it is 'all in the genes' and talked about the hunter/gatherers of olden times to justify this. Or, you may simply have said that you eat meat because you happen to like meat. I know I did. But, consider the pain that some modern methods of slaughter cause animals; consider the distress of some methods of animal husbandry. I conclude by saying that we are looking at a situation in which 'a luxury of taste' - 'I happen to like meat' - should be balanced against a greater interest - the lives and suffering of animals. Ask yourself, are our (usually) unexamined habits giving equal consideration to the rights of animals? I'm pretty sure that the arguments for and against vegetarianism could go on all night and become very heated and very complex. But, I haven't got all night ...
I started with Avatar and I'll finish with Avatar!
As I watched the film, I got to thinking about how it highlighted 'speciesism' which - remember - means hurting others because they are members of another species. I now have to write a 2,000 word essay on speciesism. I don't think for one moment that I'll be referring to Avatar, rather I'll be picking through the arguments and beliefs of a couple of chosen people, two modern philosophers well-versed in presenting a cogent argument without prejudice. It is not an easy essay. But - at the very least - perhaps I have demonstrated that the philosophers in my sights (including Tom Regan) are worth their weight in gold to a society increasingly complex and increasingly concerned about questions of morality. How we treat difference of any kind is a vexed question and I know that none of us wishes to stand accused of racism, or sexism, or speciesism. But, how often do we really take the time to examine our prejudices? We all have them.
Prejudices are usually based on unexamined belief systems. Perhaps they were inherited from parents, or perhaps learned the school yard, or even internalised from encounters in the workplace as we learned (as we all do) to toe the party line - or else. I end with this short discussion from Tom Regan who refines the term 'speciesism' still further. With regard to the similarities of 'humans and other animals', he sees a conscious creature as one having an individual welfare that has importance to us. He says that our pleasure and pain, our enjoyment and suffering, our satisfaction and frustration, our continued existence or our untimely death - all make a difference as experienced by us as individuals. The same is true of those animals that concern us. They also have an inherent value of their own. Consider this as Regan again tries to illuminate a key word, in this case, what he means by 'inherent value',
'Inherent value ... belongs equally to those who are experiencing subjects of life; including the billions and billions of animals that are routinely eaten, hunted and experimented on ... it is wrong to use animals as a resource (commercial, scientific or sport). That is a violation of their right to be treated with respect.' REGAN.
Here are another two philosophical questions to tax the mind and perhaps debate with others,
(1) In what respect is speciesism like racism or sexism? and (2) is speciesism unlike racism (and sexism) in some important respects?
I told you it wasn't an easy subject, but that's the challenge. Philosophy makes us think about issues we may never have given a thought to before. Changing thoughts lead to changing behaviours - hopefully for the better. William Shakespeare was also writing - all those centuries ago - about the power to hurt. He wrote,
'O, it is excellent / To have a giant's strength; but is is tyrranous / to use it like a giant.' (Measure for Measure, II,ii)
This blast from the past must open up a right can of worms - for some.
Finally, you might be interested to learn that, apart from writing Open University essays, I spend time speaking out on matters related to the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems. They too are the subject of prejudice. That said, I look forward to the next time we meet together in philosophical debate about matters of equality, fairness and justice for all. And, from this moment on, perhaps you will view James Cameron's new film Avatar through new eyes and see the deeper meaning inherent in the story. You might like to particularly bear in mind what Louis Alloro said about interconnectedness. There's more about this in RESEARCH and INDRA'S NET. Special thanks go to you for staying with me to the end of a long discussion. Thanks also go to to my fellow students. They are - as I write - struggling valiently (like me) to unravel difficult philosophical arguments around the often controversial topic of speciesism. Will I just sit on the fence, or will I change my ways? I know I have shifted ... slightly ...
To find yourseIf, think for yourself.
I hope this helps.
You are invited to click again on Avatar's beautiful theme tune. Maybe you, too, will learn something more about morality from a modern science fiction movie that is a cut above the rest, Avatar.
Until the next time, I am
Marian
SOCRATEAN QUOTE FOR 'NEXT TIME'
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.
- ENDS -
