Speciests, like sexists, racists, and all other tribalist bigots, violate the Principle of Equal Consideration when they allow the most trivial desires of their own group to override the greatest interests of other beings. Whether political, national, religious, or any other in-group ideology, Tribalism is the worst, most primitive impulse that we have. It is an us-vs-them mentality: “They are inferior, so nothing We do to them can be wrong.” This mentality opens the door for otherwise moral, modern people to be swept up in dangerous group-think, which can override our more enlightened inhibitions and lead to unthinkable barbarism.

The basic tenant of the “Principle of Equality” does not imply that all groups be treated the same nor be granted identical rights. For example, it does not follow that since feminists campaign for bodily autonomy for women and girls (medical parity between males and females) that they should advocate for men to also have the right to have an abortion. Since males are literally incapable of having an abortion, it is meaningless to talk of a (biological) man’s right to have one. A better example of sexual equality would be to push to access to better male contraception. The Principle is to make the status quo legally equal/fair, not identical.

Another example: since cats have no interest in voting in our elections, it is disingenuous to pretend as though animal liberation advocates are campaigning to give cats that right when speaking of “Equality” for non-human beings. A better example would be working to enshrine the rights to life and dignity for All living beings.

The basic Principle of Equality does not require identical treatment only equal consideration of needs. Equal consideration for different beings will lead to different treatment and different rights. The key to fairness is to take our cues for their treatment from the actual parties with the most at stake.

The argument for equality should not depend on intelligence, moral capacity, physical strength, level of technology, political affiliation, race, sex, or, indeed, species.

A bovine does not want her calf butchered and eaten by its captors anymore than a human wants that for their child. A frivolous desire to eat veal (or babies) should not outweigh the child’s imperative for her life, nor the parents desire to keep her safe.

In conclusion, the interests of every living being affected by an action should be taken into consideration and given equal weight as the life-interest of any other being.