Human exceptionalism remains the law in New York State as the highest court there has refused to hear an appeal seeking to create chimp personhood.

The Court of Appeals ruling rejecting the attempt, now the law of New York because the high court rejected the appeal, could have been written by me. (It wasn’t.) From the decision:

…unlike human beings, chimpanzees cannot bear any legal duties, submit to social responsibilities, or be held legally accountable for their action. In our view, it is this incapacity to bear any legal responsibilities and societal duties that renders it inappropriate to confer upon chimpanzees the legal rights — such as the fundamental right to liberty protected by the writ of habeas corpus — that have been afforded to human beings.

You see, unlike human beings WHO can all do these things unless impeded by immaturity, illness, or injury, assuming duties and the like is not part of chimp nature.

So sanity wins. For now.

Image: � antonbrand / Dollar Photo Club.

Cross-posted at Human Exceptionalism.