How do you know that other animals can feel pain?
We know that other animals feel pain in the same way that we know
that other human beings feel pain. We do not need words to
understand the suffering of a famine victim whose language we do
not understand. Through their physical reactions, we try to infer
the pain of other human beings, even though we can never
ascertain it with absolute certainty.
We know how we ourselves react to situations which cause us pain. When other animals, or other humans, are subjected to these same conditions, they exhibit the same physical responses that we do. Regardless of what we might think about the alleged superiority of humans over animals in all other areas, when it comes to the ability to feel pain and suffering, other animals will forever be our equals.
Follow up questions:
How do you know that plants can not feel pain?
Where in the animal kingdom does consciousness begin?
Aren't only humans self aware?
Don't only humans understand the concept of death?
Don't only humans have the ability to use language and understand abstract concepts?
Shouldn't we focus on solving human problems before worrying about animals?