So Why Do We Love But Exploit Animals?

Abstract

Humans prioritize and value humans over animals in virtually every way, at considerable cost to both animals and humans. In addressing why people paradoxically love but exploit animals, the present book uniquely assembled some of the most prominent voices on human-animal relations to bridge insights between academia and advocacy. This chapter synthesizes their overall discussions around three broad themes. First, we consider the nature of the problem, including topics such as animal welfare, undervaluing animals, competition with animals, social (dis)identification with animals, cultural influences, ideology and politics, and the intersection of speciesism with anti-human prejudices (e.g., racism). Second, we explore how people live with the paradox, involving discussions of biases in human thinking in general (and with regard to animals in particular), complications inherent in the notion of “moral” thinking, and the human propensity to rationalize the status quo. Third, we reflect on solutions and remedies, including a focus on psychological constructs (e.g., perceived human-animal divide; empathy), plus calls to redirect future goals and actions, bolster humane education, leverage prosocial aspects of human psychology to benefit animals, and engage in evidence-based advocacy.