A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
In justifying cruelty to animals we put ourselves also on the animal level. We choose the jungle and must abide by our choice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Justifying cruelty to animals lowers our own moral standing and reflects a primal nature within us.
C. S. Lewis emphasizes that when we rationalize or justify acts of cruelty toward animals, we not only harm those creatures but also diminish our own humanity. This choice to embrace cruelty reflects a regression to a more primitive state of existence, akin to the law of the jungle, where might determines right. Thus, we must consider the ethical implications of our actions and the consequences of choosing a path of cruelty.
Themes
CrueltyAnimalsMoralityHumanityEthics
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on animal rights, this quote highlights the moral implications of animal cruelty.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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