We accept as a given that liberty is a basic human right. This is due to the inherent nature of man as a sentient, volitional being with free will. Apparently the need for freedom is intrinsic to men and women.
Is that necessarily the case for non-human sentient life, such as might exist on other planets?
Is it plausible that another species might have a different intrinsic nature that causes them to not need liberty the way we do, in spite of their intelligence and volitional capacity for free choice? And if so, would it follow that such aliens are not entitled to liberty as a basic right? Would that make it morally acceptable for us to enslave them?
Don’t ask me why I’m thinking about this. But it got stuck in my head on the way to work.
Some people argue that liberty is a universal right. But I think the implicit assumption there is that “universal” in this context means “the planet Earth and its life forms”.
Does non-sentient life on Earth have a right to liberty? Animal-rights activists would have us believe so, but their opinion is not an objective, valid philosophical inquiry, but rather a gut emotional response based on warm-fuzzies toward animals.
Perhaps liberty is directly related to the free will concept. One cannot exist without the other. In that sense, liberty and freedom are not the same, possibly. Animals can be free, but do they have liberty? Animals can express an individual preference for things, such as flavors, but I do not think that qualifies as “free will”, per se.
When faced with a dangerous enemy, they may fight or flee, but the decision is made in accordance with instinct only. A lion doesn’t meet another lion and think “I’m going to kill this opponent because he’s evil”. The lion fights out of territorial needs, or mating rights. Or perhaps flees if his instinct is not as strong as the other lion’s.
In this sense, animals do not have a right to liberty, nor do they agitate for it. They may dislike living in an enclosed space (if it conflicts with instinctual needs for territory or socialization), but some do not seem to. Hence we have pets and zoos.
So then, back to the question of extraterrestrials.
Is it possible that a species might exist that possesses free will, i.e. the ability to make value choices in violation of pure instinct, and yet not need or desire individual liberty? Could they be content to live as slaves to another of their species, such as a dictatorial government?
Would the desire to become a dictator be motivated by a desire for liberty? Or merely a desire for power over others? Are the two related? Would such a person perhaps be considered abnormal in that alien society?
We know that there is a psychological mechanism by which some people are more sensitive than others to being in control of their environment. Some people have to have everything just so, and have to know what’s going to happen all the time, or they become anxious. Other people are more easygoing and content to accept unknown surprises on a regular basis.
The “control freak” is one extreme manifestation of this phenomenon, which seems to be a prerequisite for insane dictators (Hitler and Saddam come to mind). They would rather destroy their own country (their “possessions”) than allow others to have them. The ultimate result of this is that such people will commit suicide rather than be held captive, which is why many such criminals kill themselves in prison, or just before capture (such as the way Hitler killed himself as the Allies were closing in).
Is this inherent in a desire for liberty? Or is it merely a desire not to be in the control of another? Are they the same?
Further, if it is possible for an alien species to not need liberty the way humans do, would that be an obstacle to the development of their civilization? Is the need for liberty part and parcel with ambition and the desire to create and go forward? Is it a necessary precondition for technological and cultural development?
Incidentally, in any case it would not make it ok for humans to enslave such aliens, because that goes against our moral nature.
Any comments are welcome.
