Humans have a long history of sacrificing animals for the advancement of science and technology, but some question whether this is justified, and argue that humans should seek sustainable development that respects animals and nature.
For thousands of years, humans have been constantly advancing science and technology and changing their lifestyles. At least within the framework of human knowledge, humans are probably the only animals on Earth to have built civilizations and conquered nature. In ancient times, humans utilized nature, and after the Middle Ages, they tried to dominate it. But today, in the 21st century, humans are no longer interested in nature, but in “technology for humans,” such as extending life and fighting terminal diseases. Instead of humans, we’re using animals like dogs and cows, or the human-like chimpanzees and orangutans, to develop technologies for humans. Even today, animals used as test subjects are kept in cages in research centers around the world.
What do animals think about the current situation of humans using other animals at will? We don’t get to hear their stories, but no animal would want to be treated as inferior and used. Maybe they’re tired of being treated unfairly and want to dominate humans. Most people would agree that animals are not born to be used by humans, and humans are not born with the power to use them. So, is it right to sacrifice animals for the advancement of science and technology in the name of human happiness?
The movie Planet of the Apes (2001), directed by Tim Burton, addresses this issue. The movie’s society of apes treating humans as pets, laborers, or slaves naturally reminds us of humans in the modern world. Humans today consider themselves superior to all other animals and take animal sacrifice for the advancement of science and technology for granted. Like Ari in the movie, there are arguments for respecting animal rights in the modern world. However, scientists seem to have compromised on these claims and still use many animals in experiments. The movie seems to be a satire of modern society, showing a society that is the opposite of reality. If you put yourself in the shoes of the animals, the message is that the human mindset is dangerous.
One of the ape’s lines in the movie is particularly meaningful. In a scene where the main character, Leo, and his group go to meet his ally, Leo says to Ari, “The smarter we get, the more dangerous the world becomes.” We often forget that the more knowledgeable and technologically advanced we become, the more dangerous other animals and nature become. We are happy to use advanced technology to make our lives easier, but we are indifferent to the sacrifices that come with it.
One of the important foundations for the existence of various advanced technologies that make human life easier today is definitely the sacrifice of animals. However, modern humans have become overly desensitized to the sacrifices of animals behind the development of technology. One of the main reasons for this is the mindset that considers animals to be very inferior to humans. We think about human rights, but we don’t think about animal rights. Most people react strongly when they are harmed or treated unfairly, claiming “human rights”. However, we don’t really care if someone we don’t know is suffering the same thing. What’s more, we don’t even care about what happens to animals that can’t communicate with us, and we even take it for granted. The danger of this mindset becomes clear when we consider the existence of higher species than humans. When we see apes dominating and disrespecting humans in movies, it makes us think twice about how we treat animals. We realize how wrong it is to emphasize only human rights. “Human rights” is a concept that was created to protect human dignity. Similarly, animals deserve to be recognized for their dignity as living beings, and we should think in terms of animal rights.
Of course, it can be argued that animal sacrifice improves the quality of human life in the sense that humans are at the top of the ecosystem. There is also the logic that humans might take better care of animals as a result. However, this argument overlooks an important point. When humans sacrifice animals, they are manipulating the ecosystem. No matter how well modern humans utilize nature, they cannot create life or create natural cycles. Therefore, if we continue to use animals with a logic that is biased in favor of humans, we may eventually run out of animals to care for. Many species that existed in the past have been wiped out by humans, and many are still endangered today. Extinction is an irreversible human tragedy. This destruction of ecosystems can eventually lead to humans not being able to utilize nature properly.
However, this doesn’t mean that we should ignore scientific and technological advances in favor of animals. The resources available to humans on Earth are limited, while the population is growing exponentially. This means that without continuous innovation in science and technology, no one can guarantee the future of humanity. However, in order to achieve “sustainable development,” we need to abandon the idea that humans are superior to animals. We need to develop to live together, or in other words, to live together with nature and animals. This is in line with the concept of “sustainable development,” which is often mentioned when environmental issues arise today.
Let’s look at another scene from the movie. When the protagonist Leo returns to Earth from a planet where the chimpanzees he trained landed, he finds himself in a society of apes again. It looks no different from modern society, but where the statue of Abraham Lincoln should be, there is a statue of Thade, an ape. It’s an ape society with apes taking over the roles of humans. The director described this scene as a cliffhanger to build anticipation for the sequel, but from another perspective, it’s a reminder of humanity’s complacency about its superiority. The message is that if humans think of themselves as noble beings and pursue technological advancement without valuing other animals, they are no different from the “beasts.
Nearly 20 years after the release of Planet of the Apes, the importance of protecting the natural environment and animals has been emphasized and developed in society, but animal testing and environmental destruction still continue, and will continue to do so because they are at odds with technological progress. Therefore, more people, and ultimately everyone, should be conscious of protecting the environment and valuing the sacrifices of animals. Only then will we be able to make real progress toward a society where humans can advance science and technology while living in harmony with animals and nature.
