Internal Conflict: Nature, Humans, and Animals :: Philosophy Essays

Internal Conflict: Nature, Humans, and Animals Caught up in the modern day scheme of things, I haven't felt connected to nature in some time. I always considered myself a lover of nature and the outdoors. But driving west on US 41, as I passed the turnpike and headed into the everglades, I began to think about the last time I had been so removed from the everyday hustle and bustle. I have been having internal conflict as of late, and it seems this trip illuminated some facets of this inner unrest. It has always been easier for me to put my thoughts on paper. This is the attempt of this essay, to externalize this internal conflict. As I do this, I am hoping to better understand myself. One such debate I have with myself is whether human life is to be held above other life, and if such a concept is even possible. The second of my internal conflicts is animal rights. Do or should animals have rights? Finally, and most important, what is my responsibility or place in the grand scheme of things? This includes my decision to be a responsible human being, and whether I should have children or adopt. These ideas, not mutually exclusive, tie together and overlap in a common theme of my current internal thought processes. It seems to be my understanding that western religion or Christianity holds the belief that animals were put here on Earth for us humans. Human beings are held above all else. This is the justification for things like animal research, and the draining of the everglades for human habitation. I personally would put most members of my human family above my pet dog, if it came down to a choice. But my question is, are our lives more valuable than other life in the grand scheme of things? Or are all living things, being in a common ecosystem, interdependent? Finally, what kind of life will there be if we continue our current path of destroying these habitats, our habitat? When I pulled into Coopertown, I noticed I was the first person to arrive. This gave me a chance to look around a little. Coopertown is a tourist trap. It includes a quaint restaurant which offers gator tail and airboat rides, the latter being the reason for our trip. As I walked past the restaurant and toward the dock where the airboats depart, I came to a hut with a counter where you inquire about the airboat rides.