Reply #5: Why define something you have your own definition for

[Kagemusha]

Take homosexuality. It occurs naturally in the human population as well as numerous animal populations. Religiously speaking, it's an aberration not in God's image. Scientifically speaking, it is human to be homosexual, though it is also human to be heterosexual in much higher percentages.

Now take whaling. Some humans do it. Most don't. Most humans view whaling as outside their idea of what humanity is. They can't even begin to imagine killing such creatures. However, the minority can imagine it and does it without a second thought for money in otherwise economically depressed communities. The suffering inflicted may or may not be appreciated. However, even if it is appreciated, the humans responsible do not care, because they will place their own potential suffering from not whaling above the suffering of the whales themselves. This, too, is human - but it is well outside your definition of humane, and many people's definition for that matter.