"This is why Descartes, for whom it finally became clear, was able to construct the proposition "I think, therefore I am". What is said there is: my thought is my being or my life; I live only when I live spiritually, I am only real as spirit, that is: I am spirit from head to toe, and nothing more than spirit." - Max Stirner

Charles Darwin believed that animals also had intelligence and feelings - albeit at different levels compared to man.

Donald Griffin, a specialist in animal behavior at Harvard University, related the interaction of animals as a way of denoting conscious thinking.

Herbert S. Terrace, a scientist, discovered that critters can "form representations from the particularities of their environment.

The science has found countless signs that animals are aware and sensitive.

And already proves that animals are much closer to us than we can imagine.

Elephants recognize themselves in the mirror, (a sign they know they are unique individuals) and possess incredible memory.

Dolphins give themselves and the other members of the group proper names.

Bees suffer from depression.

Octopus develops repetitive activities with the aim of developing.

Parrots have sleep stages similar to ours and are even capable of dreaming.

The major monotheistic religions believe that animals have spirit.

Some polytheistic religions too.

Philosophy has been debating the subject for several centuries and apparently will remain in the next centuries.

And we, ordinary people?

The problem is that we have learned from the earliest years of school to distinguish and classify rational and irrational animals.

And this classification helped to perpetuate a stereotyped and untrue view.

Because based on research and studies done in the last decades, the terminology, rational and irrational, does not accurately represent the absolute truth.

And today, regardless of the existence of concrete evidence, the human being already have their verdict.

The truth is that we do not need

The Science to know that they have intelligence.

The Religion to prove they have spirit.

Or the Philosophy to ethically and morally endorse science or religion.

They are living beings and that should be enough.

With or without intelligence, with or without spirit, they deserve respect and dignity.

Like us, they feel pain, fear, hunger.

And we have a moral and ethical duty to treat them accordingly.

Because we are all animals.

And we're in the same Ark.

Sources:

https://www.vix.com/pt/ciencia/536624/animais-pensam-sim-e-cientistas-descobriram-o-que-exatamente-passa-pela-cabeca-deles

https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/ideias/animais-tem-alma-o-que-a-religiao-a-filosofia-e-a-ciencia-tem-a-dizer-a-respeito-ebrl4g5v7hfy84qim4z799zye/