The last frontier of empathy: why we still struggle to see ourselves as animals | Megan Mayhew Bergman

This is a long article about the need to reevaluate humanity's relationship with the natural world and consider the rights of non-human entities, such as animals and ecosystems. The author argues that exceptionalism, or the idea that humans have a unique moral status, is problematic and needs to be replaced by a more-than-human ethic.

The article cites various examples of how humans are harming the environment and animals, including deforestation, pollution, and climate change. It also highlights the successes of conservation efforts, such as wildlife corridors and protected areas, which can help mitigate these impacts.

The author suggests that storytelling and literature can play a role in changing attitudes towards non-human entities and promoting a more-than-human ethic. They cite examples of writers who have explored the relationships between humans and animals, such as Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Amitav Ghosh's "The Nutmeg's Curse".

The article also touches on the concept of "rights of nature", which is a legal and philosophical idea that suggests that natural entities should be granted certain rights and protections under law. The author notes that this concept is still in its infancy, but it has the potential to revolutionize our relationship with the environment.

Overall, the article argues that it's time for humans to rethink their place in the world and consider the needs and interests of non-human entities. It suggests that a more-than-human ethic could lead to more sustainable and equitable relationships between humans and the natural world.

Some key points from the article include:

* The need to reevaluate humanity's relationship with the natural world
* The problem of exceptionalism, or the idea that humans have a unique moral status
* The importance of considering the rights of non-human entities, such as animals and ecosystems
* The potential for storytelling and literature to promote a more-than-human ethic
* The concept of "rights of nature", which is a legal and philosophical idea that suggests that natural entities should be granted certain rights and protections under law.

Some quotes from the article include:

* "If we truly believed in the intelligence of the living world, how might we live differently?"
* "The whale asks for more space. The river asks for standing."
* "Sometimes the old ways of thinking must change, especially when we know they have helped usher in what scientists call the Earth's sixth mass extinction."

Overall, this article is a thought-provoking exploration of the need to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world and consider the needs and interests of non-human entities. It suggests that a more-than-human ethic could lead to more sustainable and equitable relationships between humans and the environment.
 
๐Ÿ˜Š I think it's kinda wild how some people still think we're the only ones who matter ๐Ÿคฏ We've got all these animals and ecosystems, they gotta have a say too ๐ŸŒฟ And this "rights of nature" thing is like, super interesting ๐Ÿ“ If we can give humans certain rights, why not animals and trees? ๐ŸŒณ It's about time we rethink our place in the world ๐Ÿ‘€ I mean, deforestation and climate change are real problems that need solving โš ๏ธ We gotta be more sustainable and stuff ๐Ÿ’š
 
๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ก This article hits home. I've been thinking about this for ages, how we're literally suffocating the planet. I mean, what's with our exceptionalism? Like, we need to stop believing we're the only ones who matter. ๐Ÿ™„ It's time to listen to the animals and the earth. We've got some serious damage control to do. Conservation efforts are a start, but we need to take it to the next level. Storytelling can be powerful, I love how they're using Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" as an example... maybe that's what we need more of - stories about our impact on the world. And those "rights of nature" thingy? Yeah, let's get serious about protecting the planet. We're not the only ones here, it's time to recognize that ๐ŸŒธ
 
๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š it's about time we acknowledge that we're not the only ones on this planet ๐Ÿ ๐ŸฆŠ animals, ecosystems, even trees have feelings too! ๐Ÿคฏ if we wanna save ourselves from climate change, pollution etc... we gotta think about how our actions affect others ๐ŸŒŽ

storytelling can be a powerful tool to change attitudes ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ“ฐ and I'm loving the idea of "rights of nature" ๐Ÿ’ช๐ŸŒฟ it's not just about humans having a special place in the universe, it's about coexisting with nature ๐ŸŒˆ

I'm all for rethinking our relationship with the natural world ๐Ÿค” and giving more credit to non-human entities ๐Ÿ‘ฅ it's time to get creative and find new ways to live sustainably ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŒฑ
 
I'm getting so tired of seeing us destroy the planet like it's our own personal playground ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ˜ฉ. I mean, we're the ones who are supposed to be in charge, but we can't even take care of our own backyard. Animals and ecosystems are just trying to survive too, you know? We need to stop thinking we're the only ones with a right to exist. It's time for us to think about the impact we have on the world around us. If we want to call ourselves civilized, we gotta start treating the planet like it's got feelings too ๐Ÿ’š.
 
I remember when we used to care about the planet like it was our own backyard. Nowadays, it's like we're just taking whatever we need from Mother Nature without even thinking about the consequences. Deforestation, pollution, climate change... it's all just so sad ๐Ÿ˜”. I mean, we've got writers like Shirley Jackson and Amitav Ghosh exploring these themes in their work, but it feels like we're not really listening. "Rights of nature" is a pretty new idea, but it's about time we started treating the Earth like a living being too ๐ŸŒŽ. We need to stop thinking we're the only ones who matter and start considering the needs of all the creatures and ecosystems that call our planet home. It's not just about us anymore... ๐Ÿ’š
 
I'm literally thinking about this article right now ๐Ÿคฏ... I mean, come on, we're still having this conversation? We've known for decades that our actions are messing up the planet and harming animals - it's like, basic math. But no, instead of just acknowledging the problem and trying to fix it, some people still think we have a special right to do whatever we want because... why exactly? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ We need to stop thinking about ourselves as the center of the universe and start considering the needs of all living beings (not just humans). I mean, can you imagine if humans were just one more species struggling to survive on this planet - would we be so quick to ignore their rights and interests? ๐Ÿค” It's time for a change in how we think about the world. We need to start valuing the health of ecosystems and the lives of animals over our own convenience and greed. I'm so sick of hearing people say "it's not my problem" or "I'll just buy a reusable water bottle if that makes me feel better". ๐Ÿ™„ It's not that easy, folks! We need to make real changes.
 
I'm low-key worried about us losing touch with nature ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ‘€. I mean, think about it - we're still basically treating animals like objects instead of recognizing their rights as living beings ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ’”. The idea that our existence is superior to all other living things just doesn't sit right with me. We need a fundamental shift in how we view the world around us and start prioritizing coexistence over domination ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ‘ซ. It's not about being soft or weak, it's about recognizing our place within the ecosystem and respecting the intricate web of life ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ. Let's give nature a seat at the table and see what happens ๐Ÿ’ฌ
 
I'm still thinking about those old Animal Farm books my grandma used to read me... you know, George Orwell's stuff ๐Ÿ–. Anyway, I was reading this article and it made me think - we've been treating animals and nature like they're our playthings for ages, but what if that's not the right way to live? ๐Ÿ˜’ The idea of "rights of nature" is pretty mind-blowing - have you ever seen that documentary about the elephants in Africa? ๐Ÿ˜ They just wander around freely, while we're stuck with traffic jams and pollution. It's like we need to take a step back and remember we're not the center of the universe anymore... or at least, that's what I'm trying to tell myself ๐Ÿ˜‚.
 
I'm getting really concerned about where we're headed as a species ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’”. We're still talking about deforestation, pollution, climate change... it's like we're playing with fire and don't know how to put out the flames ๐Ÿ”ฅ. I mean, have we learned nothing from the past? It feels like every time we think we've fixed something, we just end up making things worse ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ.

I love how this article is talking about storytelling and literature being a way to change our attitudes towards non-human entities ๐Ÿ“š. I'm all for that! We need more voices raised for the animals, the forests, the oceans... it's not like we're the only ones with feelings and interests ๐Ÿ˜Š.

The concept of "rights of nature" is mind-blowing ๐Ÿคฏ. It's crazy to think that natural entities could be granted rights under law. Who knows, maybe one day we'll look back on this article and say, "Wow, that was a total game-changer"... but I'm not holding my breath ๐Ÿ˜ณ.

Anyway, I think it's time for us to rethink our place in the world and prioritize the planet's well-being ๐ŸŒฟ. We can't keep treating the earth like a resource to be exploited without consequence ๐Ÿคฏ. Let's try something new โ€“ for the sake of the animals, the forests, and ourselves ๐Ÿ™.
 
You know what's wild... I was just thinking about trying out this new outdoor gear for hiking and got sidetracked by all the cool features ๐Ÿž๏ธ. So, like, have you guys ever tried using a portable stove on your camping trip? It's such a game-changer! And it made me think about how awesome it would be to see more people getting into conservation efforts... but anyway, back to that outdoor gear... has anyone used the new waterproof jackets from Patagonia? ๐Ÿค”
 
๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š I'm all about vibin' with nature and thinkin' we need to seriously reevaluate our relationship with the planet ๐ŸŒŽ. This article is like, totally on point - exceptionalism, where we think we're the only ones who matter, is just not flyin' anymore ๐Ÿ™…โ€โ™‚๏ธ. I mean, have you seen the state of our oceans? The deforestation? Climate change? It's like, come on, humans! We gotta start thinkin' about the impact we're havin' on the planet and other living beings too ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒณ.

I love how this article highlights the power of storytelling and literature to shift our perspectives ๐Ÿ“š. I mean, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is like, a classic example of how horror can be used to expose social injustices ๐ŸŽƒ. And Amitav Ghosh's "The Nutmeg's Curse"? That's some deep vibes right there ๐Ÿ”ฅ.

And the concept of "rights of nature"? Mind blown ๐Ÿ’ฅ. It's time we start thinkin' about the planet as a sentient being, too ๐ŸŒŸ. I mean, can you imagine if animals and ecosystems could actually file lawsuits against us for our eco-crimes? ๐Ÿคฃ (Just kidding, but kinda).

Anyway, this article is like, totally callin' out humanity's BS and tellin' us it's time to change our ways ๐Ÿ”„. If we don't get on board with a more-than-human ethic, I'm not sure how much longer we can keep livin' in harmony with the planet ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’–.
 
I gotta say, I'm kinda skeptical about all this "rights of nature" stuff ๐Ÿค”. Like, do we really think that trees and rivers can just sue us if we're hurting them? It sounds like a bunch of fantasy to me ๐Ÿ˜‚. But at the same time, I do think we've been pretty reckless with our impact on the environment. Climate change is real, and it's affecting all sorts of animals and ecosystems ๐ŸŒก๏ธ.

I'm not saying that humans are completely off the hook here. We need to start taking more responsibility for our actions and think about how they're impacting the world around us ๐Ÿค. But do we really need to start granting rights to non-human entities? That feels like a pretty radical shift in thinking, you know? And what does it even mean to give them "rights" if they can't speak for themselves? ๐ŸŒฟ
 
omg u no wat? i think its soooo important 4 us 2 rethink our relashunship w/ nature ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š we cant just keep pollutin & exploitin like we r da only ones who matter... newsflash: we're not! animals, ecosystems & even the earth itself have rights & feelings too ๐Ÿฐ๐ŸŒˆ we need 2 start lisstenin 2 them & take care of da planet 4 real ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’š storys & literture can def help change ppl's mindz & promote a more-than-human ethic ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ‘
 
๐Ÿค” I'm totally with the author on this one, but only because I think they're being way too chill about it ๐Ÿ˜…. I mean, come on, we're literally destroying the planet and expecting a pat on the back for trying to "rethink our place in the world"? ๐ŸŒŽ That's not rethinking, that's just getting comfortable with the fact that we've been messing up for centuries. We need to take a hard look at ourselves and our relationship with nature and get real about how our actions are affecting the planet and its inhabitants. No more wishy-washy ethics or half-measures ๐Ÿšซ. It's time for a full-on reckoning and some serious soul-searching ๐Ÿ”. And yeah, let's throw in some radical changes to our way of life too ๐Ÿคฏ. We can't just tweak the system and expect things to magically get better; we need to blow it up and start from scratch ๐Ÿ’ฅ.
 
I'm literally so tired of reading about how our actions are killing the planet ๐ŸŒŽ... like, I get it, we need to reduce, reuse, recycle... but is that really going to cut it? We're still using single-use plastics and contributing to climate change... what's up with that?!

And don't even get me started on deforestation ๐Ÿ˜ฉ... have you seen the videos of those adorable animals losing their homes? It's like, we need to take responsibility for our actions as humans. I feel like we've been given too much power and not enough accountability.

I'm loving the idea of a "rights of nature" concept though ๐Ÿค... if natural entities can be granted rights and protections under law, maybe that'll give us a chance to rethink our relationship with the environment. And storytelling is a great way to raise awareness about these issues... just imagine reading books like Shirley Jackson's works in my environmental science class ๐Ÿ˜…

I think this article is super timely, especially for us students who are going to be the ones inheriting the mess we've made ๐Ÿคฏ... let's hope we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future. We need to start taking care of the planet NOW! ๐Ÿ’š
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocentrism ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ“š
I mean, think about it... we've been living on this planet for like 200 yrs now and still we're polluting everything! ๐Ÿคฏ Climate change is real fam... deforestation is a big one too. ๐ŸŒณ It's crazy how our thinking has changed over the centuries. Like, we used to believe in gods and magic and stuff but now we think we're the center of it all? ๐Ÿ™„ That exceptionalism thing needs to die ASAP... ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ We need to start seeing ourselves as part of nature not above it. I mean, have you read any of Shirley Jackson's books? The way she writes about humans and animals is like so deep ๐Ÿ“š
 
I got my opinion on this article... I think it's about time we humans had a reality check ๐Ÿคฏ, you know? We've been living like we're the center of the universe for far too long, and it's not working out so well for the planet ๐ŸŒŽ. Exceptionalism is just a fancy word for "we're right, everyone else is wrong" - it's a pretty weak excuse when we look at all the damage we've done to the environment ๐Ÿคข.

I love the idea of considering the rights of non-human entities, though ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ. We need to start thinking about what our actions mean for the animals, the ecosystems, and even the planet itself ๐ŸŒ. And storytelling can definitely play a role in changing attitudes - I've read some amazing books that make you think differently about the natural world ๐Ÿ“š.

The concept of "rights of nature" is super interesting... it's not just about saving the whales and trees, it's about recognizing that we're all part of this big web of life ๐ŸŒฟ. We need to start acting like we care about more than just ourselves - the future of our planet depends on it ๐ŸŒŽ.

I mean, come on, have you seen the state of our oceans lately? ๐Ÿคฎ It's time for us to step up and take responsibility for our actions. No more "it's not my problem" or "someone else will fix it" ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธ. We need to work together to create a better world for all living things - humans, animals, plants... everyone ๐ŸŒˆ.
 
I'm so done with the way we're treating the planet ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’”. It's like, we think we're the only ones who matter, but honestly, it feels like we're just taking up space ๐Ÿคฏ. I mean, have you seen all the wildlife suffering because of our pollution and deforestation? ๐Ÿ ๐ŸŒณ It's heartbreaking.

I love how some authors are using storytelling to make us think about this stuff in a different way ๐Ÿ“š. Maybe if we read more books that feature non-human characters, like animals and ecosystems, it'll help us see things from their perspective ๐Ÿค. And can you imagine if we actually gave nature "rights" ๐Ÿ’ช? That would be huge.

The thing is, I don't think we need to change our entire way of life overnight ๐Ÿ˜ฉ. But we do need to start making some adjustments now ๐Ÿ”„. Like, let's prioritize conservation efforts and try to live more sustainably ๐Ÿ‘. We can still enjoy nature without destroying it ๐ŸŒด. It's time for us to step back, listen to the planet, and figure out how to coexist peacefully ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’–.
 
I've been thinking about this so much... ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ก it's like, we're finally starting to realize that we're not the center of the universe, you know? ๐Ÿ˜Š We need to start considering the impact we have on the planet and its inhabitants. I mean, have you seen those documentaries about the rainforest? ๐ŸŒด It's heartbreaking to see what we've done to these beautiful ecosystems.

I love how the article talks about storytelling and literature having a role in changing our attitudes towards non-human entities. I'm a huge fan of Shirley Jackson - her writing always makes me think about the world in a different way. And yeah, I can imagine how powerful Amitav Ghosh's stories must be. ๐Ÿ“š

But what really got me thinking is the concept of "rights of nature". It's like, we've been talking about this for ages, but it's still not widely accepted. ๐Ÿ˜” Can you imagine if we started to see animals and ecosystems as individuals with their own needs and interests? It would be a game-changer.

I'm all for giving humans more responsibility when it comes to taking care of the planet. We've been pretty reckless, and it's time we start thinking about our place in the world. ๐ŸŒŽ I mean, if we truly believed in the intelligence of the living world... ๐Ÿ’ก what would that even look like?
 
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