Animal in Children

Jeremy Bentham wrote; a full-grown horse or dog is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day, or a week, or even a month, old. But suppose they were otherwise, what would it avail? The question is not, Can they reason? nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? Bentham is quite right in saying that animals can be more rational than a toddler. When I was walking down the busy streets of London, I realised that a child was absolutely irrational in saying to the mother lets walk on the road since its more clear. I am not sure whether child was being naughty but I think that is the hight of irrationality. 

A weird question swiped my mind which made me to ponder on the concept of animality in children. Can children be compared to animals? If rationality makes us distinct from animals, what about the irrational children? Are they animals? Children don't reason, walk, communicate or express (we might miss judge their expression, since their communication is limited). sometimes animals are much better of than children. For instance, swimming can be innate for animals whereas human have to develop the skill to swim. I think same with old people who are virtually inactive. Can we call them animals? In other words do they qualify to be animals since they don't have required qualities of a human person. 

I am not trying to think with Peter Singer's equality for animals but I would rather say that animals are just like humans; neither superior nor inferior. If we had an opportunity to go to the animal kingdom and make an enquiry, probably I think animals might consider humans as animals or even inferior to them. But unfortunately we cannot do that. But we can explore the possibilities. 

One of my friends told me, children cannot be named as animals rather can we coin a word to express that animality in children. I cannot think of any word but I am sure we need to make sure that children are distinct from human beings. It is not the only body that makes human person but the whole being makes a human person. Therefore, it is obvious that children are lovely little animals who in fact develop various skills as they grow.