Question

Read the negative position from "Animal Rights Debate."

It is clear that humans are superior to animals, and therefore animals should not have the same rights as human beings. The Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that only humans have the ability to reason. Animals only have instincts to guide them. Therefore, they are not sentient, or thinking, beings like humans are. In addition, humans show their superiority to animals through control. Humans have superior abilities that allow them to raise animals for a variety of uses. Human beings are in control of animal life, making animal rights unnecessary.


Which statement best uses the ideas of the negative position to provide an affirmative rebuttal?


Animals can show humanlike traits, such as cooperation and the use of tools.

The purpose of animals is to be either consumed or used, regardless of whether they can reason with others.

Even though humans can communicate their reasoning better

Answer 1

Even though humans can communicate their reasoning better than animals, animals like chimpanzees have shown that they reflect on their own thoughts.

Step-by-step explanation:

A rebuttal is a way of contesting an earlier statement, showing facts that prove that the previous statement is not correct, but has inconsistencies and therefore cannot be considered.

An example of this can be seen in the question that presents a text that states that animals do not need rights, since they are not able to reason and reflect. In this case, it is possible to refute this claim by claiming that even though humans can communicate their reasoning better than animals, animals like chimpanzees have shown that they reflect on their own thoughts.