I&#x27;ve read about various research data that suggests animals may very well have a rich internal life which may well indicate they have their own &quot;you&quot; minds (although I can&#x27;t cite any off the top of my head right now...)<p>I agree that an unqualified sweeping statement - possibly just regurgitated from various religious sources - shouldn&#x27;t be blindly accepted. That sort of religiously-prescribed attitude also conveniently justifies maltreatment of animals at slaughter, even though research suggests that, e.g. the slitting of an animal&#x27;s throat causes far greater suffering rather other more modern approaches.