What is our obligation????

Question

If we truly have developed a method of sign language to communicate with certain species of moutain gorilla, are we now obligated to provide some form of verbal counseling, preparing them for their inevitable extinction? Or, should we cultivate an atmosphere of false hope?

Will we have the same obligation to whales as the able to communicate develops?

Do we have any obligation to tunas?

Answer 1

We are obligated to teach them to fear people. For their own survival.

Answer 2

Excellent question. As a religious person, my belief is God told us that we need to do certain things or we will have an unpleasant afterlife. So, if we are able to communicate at an intelligent level with endangered animals,  I think we have the same obligation towards them.

Of course, I wouldn't go around telling every sheep, cow, chicken, etc, that we are going to eat them.  

Answer 3

8 We have a debt of gratitude to the entire web of life because our existence as part of it would be impossible without the others. Your question is based on a limited perspective.

Answer 4

actually we can communicate verbally with apes. but not to that extent, they speak at the level of like a 1.5 year old around there. where they understand nouns and simple commands, but can't carry a conversation about the weather (the apes don't speak but they understand spoken).

so they probably would never make it to the level of knowledge and understanding where they could comprehend the meaning of the word extinction.

i think we have an obligation to all these species, but it has nothing to do with communication, more to do with co-existing. we have an obligation, i think, to save them from ourselves. and in the process achieving the less noble yet still desirable result of saving us from ourselves.

explaining to somebody that you are about to stab them in the heart and helping them prepare for it... doesn't really make it better. what you need to do is not stab them in the first place. explaining to them what's going on is kind of moot. in fact maybe if would better to gift them the bliss of ignorance.

Answer 5

It is true that some animals have ways of communicating with humans but they still are animals.

Our obligation to animals is to be as humane as possible within reason. We should help animals from becoming extinct and help the animals we eat not to be poorly treated. A gorilla is worthy of living. So is a whale.

A tuna is a fish humans eat and it needs to be harvested intelligently and not over fished.

Jeff (weseye) Wesley

Answer 6

I think we need to have a 20 million dollar study done on this.. I volunteer  !