Well, it you go outside to woods or some less habitable place in countryside, you will see that nature by itself is cruel as fuck. Smashed snakes and frogs on road, corpses of bugs everywhere. But then pay attention to animals that live, for example, by the lake. Last week I was witnessing how fish were eating waterstriders. Bug was sliding on top of water and then "bang" eaten alive. How horrible is it to meet your end in mouth of other being, watching how it bites pieces off your body. Living in city makes people to become soft snowflakes. Whole life's phenomena is about survival and not about being able to buy 25 different brands of frozen yogurt.
Some animals will play with their food first. Dolphins comes to mind, and they pass the mirror test.
Humans have more awareness and ability. Empathy should say don't torture things capable of feeling pain, fear.
Don't think crustaceans experience pain, or fear the same. Still going to go for quick kill if I can. I've seen kids on the pier, usually asian or Mexican play with the crabs before taking them home or throwing back.
you will see that nature by itself is cruel as fuck
That does not mean that man should emulate it. To be a man is to become better than your animal nature, while understanding it is where we have come from.
This is pretentious take on nature. Because humans are part of it, and pretty much insignificant part. Actually, humans are more like parasites to ecosystem. Ants and earthworms are much more important part of nature judging by their contribution to it.
Humans as well as other primates are probably one of the cruelest animals, but I agree that understanding and accepting own nature is way to go, however using moral categories of "better than nature" is attempt to divide humans from rest of living beings.
attempt to divide humans from rest of living beings.
By simple dint of thought, we are so divided.
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