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Why Do Animals Have Suffering?

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There is some dissension as to whether animals are capable of suffering. One supporter of the theory that animals can’t suffer is Peter Harrison. Harrison states that while humans and animals react similarly to stimuli inducing pain, pain-behavior is not necessary for or contingent upon the experience of pain. Amoeba display pain-behavior, but they do not have nerves, neurons, brains, etc. Therefore, it’s unreasonable to think that they feel pain the same way we do. Although higher-level animals do have these bodily features, Harrison still believes that they do not have a conscious registering of the concept of pain. Their experience of it is merely a mechanical reaction to an unpleasant feeling that can help them avoid situations that can

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