on human beings and animals

Ryan: I know my dog has a while (left to live) but (and this sounds terrible) for some reason I feel more sad when I think about her dying than when I think about death and most other people I know.

Celia: That doesn't sound terrible to me.

I mean it doesn't sound great, either.

But still. I think sometimes we have a greater connection with our pets than we do with some people.

Ryan: Yea, I wonder why there is that strong connection.

Celia: Because pets aren't judgmental.

Ryan: Wow.

Yeah.

True.

Celia: Our pets don't see us as bad or mean or anything like that even when we feel we are. They always come up to us, tails wagging or meowing. They really are man's best friend because they are always there when you need them.

Ryan: Well they can certainly see us as bad or mean, but I get what you mean; they don't make us feel like we did something wrong.

Celia: Yea, and they don't care what we look like or what we wear and things like that; and sometimes people do.

Ryan: Haha, I think most people do, all of the time.

Celia: Haha. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, I guess. Well maybe that's a lie.

Ryan: But, you know, pets do care about what we look like, they just never criticize us for it.

Celia: How do you figure?

Ryan: A dog will growl at a really large shady looking man who's a stranger.

Celia: Haha that's a good point.

Ryan: But the dog isn't ever going to say that it's wrong to be a large shady looking man.

Celia: Maybe that is what dogs are saying when they bark: "Stay back creeper!"

Ryan: But even then they aren't saying that it's wrong to be a creeper.

Celia: That's true.

Ryan: It's a big difference, I think, between dogs and human beings.

A dog shows you how it feels; it never tries to impose a way of feeling on you.
[Animals don't seem to challenge human autonomy; they only ever act and react.]

We love them for that.

But we make pets feel bad on purpose all the time: "Bad dog!"

Celia: Yea but that's just a way of parenting; parents make their children feel bad to teach them.

Ryan: Well I'm not saying it's good or bad, I'm just saying that dogs don't ever do that (judge us) and I think that's part of why we like them.

Celia: No, yea, I completely agree.

Ryan: I think you brought up a hugely important topic.

Celia: I didn't mean to haha. You asked.

Ryan: I mean, in moral philosophy the treatment of animals and the difference between human beings and animals are huge subjects. Sorry for being all philosophical (it is like my life). [says the philosophy major]

Celia: Haha. Well animals are my life. So it worked out. [says the pre-veterinarian major]