WE CAN DESTROY ANIMALS MORE EASILY THAN THEY CAN DESTROY US: THIS IS THE ONLY SOLID BASIS FOR OUR CLAIM TO SUPERIORITY. WE VALUE ART, SCIENCE AND LITERATURE BECAUSE THEY ARE THINGS IN WHICH WE EXCEL. BUT WHALES COULD VALUE BLOWING AND DONKEYS COULD CONSIDER THAT A GOOD BRAYING IS MORE EXQUISITE THAN BACH’S MUSIC. WE CANNOT PROVE THEM WRONG, EXCEPT THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF OUR ARBITRARY POWER. ALL ETHICAL SYSTEMS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, DEPEND ON WEAPONS OF WAR.