The case of the animals against the humans

Another approach to knowledge is through teaching. The Ismaeili sect The Brethren of Purity did this through confronting the student with their own convictions and beliefs in a dynamic between teacher and student in a new pedagogical technique. They would meet in secret at night, have some good food, pray and then get to the instruction. Their teachings were not always clear and easy to understand, as they practised taqiyya; they hid their teachings in the shrouds of mystical language. As they wanted the reader to make an effort and not to throw their precious teachings on the street.

They wrote a good deal of texts this way: a total of 50 treatises, each a book long and worked on by several authors. They formed an encyclopedia; a complete overview of everything you needed to know. They wrote this way because even though they wrote in mystical ways, they still wanted to reach the masses and they thought encyclopedias were an excellent way to do so, following the ancient doctrine of knowledge through summaries.

In a certain way they are easier ways of receiving knowledge, as it is offered in smaller, more concentrated pieces. It is the method of offering people knowledge in a way that is dealable for them and with recurrence it becomes a complete teaching. This accumulation of knowledge is called syncretism, where they get a very broad development of their knowledge and thought.

It was very important for them to teach the students to not fall into dogmatism; do not take something for granted. Be critical and do not cling to one creed, but keep your horizon open. Shun no science, scorn no book, study everything. This way they taught tolerance and open-mindedness. They believed all religions to contain truth. Your worldview should not be centered around yourself, but around God.

They liked to write and teach through parables, which challenged the reader while entertaining them. It was meant to be a critical voice hidden in storytelling. They wanted the reader to take on someone else's perspective and to get outside of themselves, to crawl in the skin of someone else and so to overcome their prejudice and dogmatism, as dogmatism leads to bloodshed, hate and bigotry. It causes a violent struggle for domination.

This technique is particularly evident in their treatise The case of the animals against the humans, in which they also talk about how this desire to dominate is particularly strong when it concerns animals. Here the animals take the humans to court to file a case against how the humans oppress, exploit and kill them. The animals speak, argue and behave as humans and in this text are even more rational and righteous than the humans.

And as I read that I thought they might actually be. We humans think ourselves to be so great, so special and gifted. We are rational and moral; we can distinguish between good and bad and truly be compassionate. Yet, ironically, we use precisely this to justify the enslavement, exploitation and killing of animals. So are we really so compassionate and rational? Do we not allow ourselves to be led by our desires without any regard for the consequences?

It is strange to me how often animals are mentioned in philosophy, and almost never in a positive sense. This philosophical talk about animals has found its way into everyday language and ideas: 'He behaves like an animal!' 'What a beast!' 'You're a dirty pig!' Etc.

Animals seem to represent all that is bad. All vices, while humans and humanity are the epitome of goodness and the virtuous.

How ridiculous, ironic it is that it is we, who see ourselves as better because we are rational, can think and thus be moral agents, disregard this morality almost completely when dealing with these animals and the natural world they are part of. And all because we are superior, and therefore are justified in behaving like this. What nonsense. How can being a moral agent be a justification to behave immorally?!

Almost always the topic is how humans differ from animals; what makes us better, greater, superior. This is just so plain stupid. Why does it matter? We are all unique, there are differences, sure, but why do we try to rise by bringing the other down? Don't we show how low we are by trying to drag ourselves up?

It is time we leave this 'childish' behavior behind us and open up a future of a new humankind. One of kindness and compassion. Let us live enlightened, in peace and harmony with the world. It will bring happiness and joy to everyone and everything.

We can not justify raping the world this way, nor should we aspire to be able to.