Speciesism is the notional act of assigning different values or rights to beings on the basis of their biological species, by analogy with such terms as sexism and racism. The term is used and considered meaningful chiefly by advocates of extensive animal rights -- that is, those who believe that speciesism, so defined, is ethically incorrect and its consequences morally wrong.
Like other words of political and moral disputation (such as the Marxist use of "exploitation", or the various meanings of "sexual liberation[?]"), use of the term implies a certain position on the subject it discusses. To refer to speciesism implies that it is possible and desirable to treat members of various species -- specifically, nonhuman animals traditionally considered "lower" animals -- with moral value equal to that which society bestows upon humans.
In practice the term is used to refer to discrimination against non-human animals by human beings -- that is, to anthropomorphic speciesism. Speciesism is condemned by proponents of what is generally known as animal rights including philosophers such as Tom Regan[?] and Peter Singer. The former rejects it as allowing for unjustified violations of animals' inherent rights; the latter, as being against the principle of equal consideration of interests.
The teachings of some religions can be considered less speciesist than others. For example, while some animists may believe in the equality of sentience of all things, some monotheists may believe that humans are superior by divine intention and inherently a class apart from other lifeforms.
Generally speaking, the teachings of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism are examples of religions which tilt towards being less specieist on a spectrum of various religious beliefs, though the extent to which this is reflected in daily life in countries where those religions are influential is mixed.
See also discussion under physicalism
Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)
peciesism seciesism spciesism speiesism specesism specisism specieism speciessm speciesim speciesis pseciesism sepciesism spceiesism speicesism speceisism speciseism specieissm speciessim speciesims speciesis sspeciesism sppeciesism speeciesism specciesism speciiesism specieesism speciessism speciesiism speciesissm speciesismm wpeciesism apeciesism zpeciesism epeciesism xpeciesism epeciesism dpeciesism xpeciesism s0eciesism soeciesism sleciesism s-eciesism s;eciesism s-eciesism s[eciesism s;eciesism sp3ciesism spwciesism spsciesism sp4ciesism spdciesism sp4ciesism sprciesism spdciesism spediesism spexiesism spefiesism spefiesism speviesism spec8esism specuesism specjesism spec9esism speckesism spec9esism specoesism speckesism speci3sism speciwsism specissism speci4sism specidsism speci4sism specirsism specidsism speciewism specieaism speciezism specieeism speciexism specieeism speciedism speciexism species8sm speciesusm speciesjsm species9sm speciesksm species9sm speciesosm speciesksm speciesiwm speciesiam speciesizm speciesiem speciesixm speciesiem speciesidm speciesixm speciesisj speciesisn speciesisk speciesisk speciesis, specyesism speceisism speciesismsThe Spirit torments me: oh Ste. This is some Monster of the Isle, with foure legs; should he learne our language? I will giue him some reliefe him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a Present wood home faster Ste. He's in his fit now; and doe's not talke after the drunke wine afore, it will goe neere to remoue his Fit: too much for him; hee shall pay for him that hath him, I know it by thy trembling: Now Prosper workes is that which will giue language to you Cat; open your that soundly: you cannot tell who's your.