Does the Love of Animals Enhance Our Humanity?

February 4, 2024

*Well behaved dogs are welcome at Marda Loop Brewing Company. including during this event.

Discussion Questions

Please discuss the questions in any order you'd like. Numbers are just there for easier reference.

Do you have any cute or funny pet or wild animal stories to tell?
Do you have a pet now? Have you had pets in the past? How has your relationship with pets differed from one species to another?
Have you ever worked with animals? (Farm, research, training, etc.)
What animals do you consider most intelligent?
Do you think of human intelligence and animal intelligence as separate or related?
Do you think that real communication with animals is possible? Do you think that (using AI to enhance communication with animals) will be a big defining moment for our species? (Questions from the end of video below).
Do you treat some animals differently than others in terms of what you do or don't eat, how concerned you are for their quality of life, and what rights you think should be protected?
Are there some kinds of animal intelligence that are very different than human intelligence?
What are your opinions on factory farming, ethical farming, and hunting as means of harvesting meat for human consumption?
How should we govern our urban and rural living environments with consideration for the wild and domestic animals nearby?

Additional Material

Material listed here is intended to enhance discussion. The inclusion of these materials is not an endorsement of their authors or the organizations publishing them. We encourage you to fact check any claims made in these materials.