Was descartes right about animals being machines ?

[Majed]

Descartes famously argued that animals were machines who didn't have sentience and an inner life. Therefore they couldn't feel pain and suffering. Which helped then proponents of cartesianism torture animals. However when i first heard this story i was contemplating how could this be true. However finally after a while, i awoken today and realized life is a dream. And just like in a dream, others aren't real, hence both humans, and animals are fictions within this dream, within God's mind. 

[OBEler]

@Majed I don't think that you awoke today. It sounds more like a bit of contemplating. 

Edit: I saw your other post. OK you have something realized. 

How exactly has this awakening unfold? 

I don't want you to convince me I know you have been awoken to something. Just I am curious how an awakening really occurs besides Leo guras. 

Edited 1 hour ago by OBEler

[Basman]

It's sounds like justifying essentially a Christian view of animals. That humans are innately superior and that humans have god given right to exploit animals (literally). Descartes was catholic. Modern Christians are more amicable to animal rights.

If you believe that humans are animals, then this line of thinking is obviously wrong, because you know that humans suffer and feel pain. Therefor animals must suffer too. It's just a question of how and to what degree relative to the makeup of one's physiology.

Edited 1 hour ago by Basman