He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong, so as it be explicit. If it is right, it will serve as a guide to direct; if wrong, as a beacon to warn.
Jeremy BenthamRead
I don't care whether animals are capable of thinking; all I care about is that they are capable of suffering!
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jeremy Bentham emphasizes the importance of recognizing animal suffering over their cognitive abilities.
This quote by Jeremy Bentham challenges us to focus on the capacity for suffering in animals rather than their ability to think. It highlights a moral imperative to consider how we treat animals based on their ability to feel pain and suffering, advocating for their welfare and humane treatment, regardless of their cognitive capabilities.
Themes
AnimalsSufferingEthicsMoralWelfare
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about animal rights.
More from Jeremy Bentham
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Nature has placed mankind under the government of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure... they govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it.
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Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
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It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.
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Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.
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