[extropy-chat] Spanish Socialists consider giving apes human-level rights

[George Dvorsky]

> While the great apes are near enough genetically that I believe they 
> should not be abused in any way it is sheer nonsense to claim they are 
> equals or that they have the same rights as human beings.   

No one is suggesting that these animals are cognitively or physically 
equal to humans. The point is to grant them the same protections under 
the law that we ourselves current have, which can be construed as a form 
of equality under the law.

This is an important step for a number of reasons. First, apes will 
actually be protected by the law rather than wishful thinking and 
flowery sentiments. Second, many of them need to be protected from 
extinction threats, cruelty, confinement, and other harms. And finally, 
having a body of enforceable cross-species rights is an important 
precursor to a communal set of rights that will be shared by humans and 
posthumans.

Cheers,
George