Also, Mused, I think there are people out there who would choose the animal over the human. I can't make you believe that, but there is enough evidence out there that makes me believe that human compassion can truly outgrow that even of his/her own survival.
Also, if I list a specific example then we get into the person's agenda and how he/she is really being selfish in their "act of compassionate suicide." But that's not the point I'm trying to get at.
I believe what WOULD I do does not matter as much as what SHOULD I do. And that's because I espouse the subjective reality model to some degree (you create your own reality). So if you think you WOULD do something, then you're gonna do it! Plain and simple, which leaves almost no room for choice or improvement. Of course, I know that's a generalization and highly debatable, but to get back to the main point of the thread: Why is human life any more valuable than any other life BEYOND just survival and evolutionary reasons?
Also to be totally fair, then we should have more rights than humans who are mentally handicapped because they have less survival skills and are less evolved than we are.
That logic just tickles me funny.