Child > Adult > Animal

[entralinks]

In a life threatening situation...

Why do we deem a human life more important than an animal's?

After you have thought of an answer, why is a child's life more important than an adult's?

[MIG]

I suppose an animal would think otherwise.

And what makes you think all people in the world will save a child first ?

[Swaraj!!]

Oh is that so!!!!

Try just nudging a dog in public in America and you wont get away without a million dollar court case.

Do the same thing to a man and usually, nothing happens.

Kids, I agree, and it is because consider Any religion, Any Law,................... the sole purpose of its existance is to help those who cannot help themselves. Kids fit the bill perfectly.

[Easa]

A child has more years to live, thus, making his life more important.

[Sheikh]

Originally Posted by Easa A child has more years to live, thus, making his life more important.

Or her...

[12thMan]

An adult who has to take care of the family is more important to me than a child. Save a child but let the mother/father die who was earning the money and taking care of the 3 other kids then see how it affects the other 3 kids and the household. The sentimental thinking is women and children and adult males come after that.

[Daoud]

Although in planes they always say in case of an emergency, those with children should place masks on themselves first then their children. That does make perfect sense. l

[entralinks]

Your parents definitely will Daoud.

[entralinks]

Originally Posted by MIG I suppose an animal would think otherwise. And what makes you think all people in the world will save a child first ?

I was under such impression I guess. Who would you save first miggy?


How I was approaching this is that humans take importance over animals because we are intellectually superior, or is it because we're like each other, familiar, and they are different, not understandable, socially not connectible?

I thought it is because we're intellectually superior and that makes us more important than children too. However we put children first because they are 'ours'? Which then leaves the animals wondering the reason given to them (ha), was untrue?

If you think, this is quite funny. Animals were happy with the reason given that they are intellectually inferior, however they had a fit when they got to know they were lied to and the actual reason is that humans just don't like them as much. (Am I quoting you accurately Oxy?)

[Indiafan]

Originally Posted by entralinks In a life threatening situation... Why do we deem a human life more important than an animal's? After you have thought of an answer, why is a child's life more important than an adult's?

Surely, the answer is nature. Nature is designed to take life forwards. Apart from one's own survival, the second most important thing for any species is to make sure that its own kind survives and prospers.

If you notice, babies and children of all species have similar characteristic traits. They are endearing, have very cute features, big head, small features:- like nose,mouth; large eyes. All these make them very alluring and adults who come across them have an instinctive desire to protect them.

This is particularly importan in humans were babies and children are practiculy helpless as compared to other species. A child in a fire will not know where to go but a puppy will know instinctively.

Also, its because of this that there have been so many reports of animals adopting kids of other species, a Dog adopting kittens, etc. Life finds a way to survive.

So in a crisis, the most important instinct is for the continual survival of our species so children come first. Then comes self survival. I dont think any species (including humans) care really about the survival of other animals and go out of the way to save them unless they are known to them (like a pet dog).

[MIG]

Originally Posted by entralinks I was under such impression I guess. Who would you save first miggy? How I was approaching this is that humans take importance over animals because we are intellectually superior, or is it because we're like each other, familiar, and they are different, not understandable, socially not connectible? I thought it is because we're intellectually superior and that makes us more important than children too. However we put children first because they are 'ours'? Which then leaves the animals wondering the reason given to them (ha), was untrue? If you think, this is quite funny. Animals were happy with the reason given that they are intellectually inferior, however they had a fit when they got to know they were lied to and the actual reason is that humans just don't like them as much. (Am I quoting you accurately Oxy?)

got me there.

Let me tell you of a friend of my father who was on a wild life trip in Pakistan - on hearing the roar of some wild animal, out ran his family to safety!

Not that this is typical but in life or death situations - some men may not function in the prescribed way.

As for women - well ALLAH has provided them with a maternal instinct that will see them shred to pieces before they let their child be harmed.

Ofcourse they are exceptions in todays world but there is a natutal bond between mothers and children which is deeper than anything science can explain.

[ahsan17]

Originally Posted by Easa A child has more years to live, thus, making his life more important.

This argument becomes void when we realize that its not only child, but women too. If you hear about some hostage situation or a lot of people dying, women and children get a special mention.. i.e. x number of the people dead were women and/or children. Only adult male are left out.