SPECIESISM Meaning and
Definition
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Speciesism is a concept coined in the 1970s by British psychologist Richard Ryder, referring to a discriminatory belief or ideology that grants special privileges or superior moral status to certain species of animals over others solely based on their membership in a particular species. It is a form of prejudice or bias that considers non-human animals as lower or inferior beings, justifying their use, exploitation, or mistreatment for the benefit or convenience of humans.
The term "speciesism" is often used in parallel with other forms of discrimination, like racism and sexism, to draw attention to the unjust treatment and exploitation of animals and to advocate for their rights. Those who challenge speciesism argue that all sentient beings, regardless of their species, possess inherent value and deserve to be treated with respect, compassion, and fairness.
Speciesism manifests in various ways, such as in the industrial farming and commercial production of animals for food, clothing, or experimentation, as well as in activities like hunting, trophy collecting, or using animals for entertainment purposes. Advocates against speciesism promote the recognition of animals' moral considerability and their right to live free from harm, promoting alternative ethical frameworks such as veganism, animal liberation, or animal rights.
In summary, speciesism describes the prejudiced mindset that favors one particular species (human) and assigns them superior moral worth, resulting in the exploitation and mistreatment of non-human animals.
Common Misspellings for SPECIESISM
- apeciesism
- zpeciesism
- xpeciesism
- dpeciesism
- epeciesism
- wpeciesism
- soeciesism
- sleciesism
- s-eciesism
- s0eciesism
- spwciesism
- spsciesism
- spdciesism
- sprciesism
- sp4ciesism
- sp3ciesism
- spexiesism
- speviesism
- spefiesism
- spediesism
Etymology of SPECIESISM
The word "speciesism" is derived from the term "species" and the suffix "-ism".
The term "species" comes from the Latin word "species", meaning "kind" or "appearance". It originally referred to a specific sort or kind of thing. Over time, the term evolved to describe a group of animals or plants capable of reproducing among themselves but not with other groups.
The suffix "-ism" is a very common suffix in the English language, often used to form nouns from verbs or to create names for systems, practices, or ideologies. It is derived from the Greek suffix "-ismos" and the Latin suffix "-ismus".
Therefore, combining "species" and "-ism" creates the word "speciesism", which refers to a belief or ideology that assigns different values, rights, or considerations to individuals based on their membership in different species.
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