Philosophical thought is diverse on the question of whether humans should accord moral status to animals and, furthermore, what place animals should be given in an acceptable moral system. Proper treatment and direct moral concern of animals is considered unjustified by some philosophers, since the use of animals by humans is considered part of the natural process of life. In contrast, other philosophers see animals in a similar light to humans. These philosophers believe that animals have the capacity to experience both positive and negative emotions or sensations and can suffer in the same way as humans, and are therefore deserving of moral status. This essay will discuss these two contrasting views regarding the proper treatment of animals, analyzing Aristotle's views on the moral status of animals and his belief that non-human animals do not possess the capacity to reason and therefore should be denied moral status. Furthermore, this essay will compare and contrast Aristotle's views with those of Jeremy Bentham, defending Bentham's view that the capacity to suffer rather than the capacity to reason should set the standard for who or what should acquire moral status. It is evident that a natural hierarchy of living things exists in our world, with humans placed at the top. A living being's capacity or ability to experience, do, or understand something based on its specific nature determines where it will be classified in this natural hierarchy. Although beings such as plants, animals, and humans all possess the ability to absorb nutrients to aid growth and life in general, it is only animals and humans that have the ability to be consciously aware of different forms of life... middle of paper... it is acceptable to use animals for certain human needs such as food as long as the animal is raised humanely, treated in a morally permissible manner during its life, and killed by a painless method. In conclusion, although humans are given a privileged place over animals in the natural hierarchy of morally significant beings, it is not permissible to argue that animals do not deserve moral status. Aristotle's view that non-human animals do not possess the capacity to reason and therefore should be denied moral status should be ignored in favor of Bentham's view that non-human animals have the capacity to perceive pain and pleasure, regardless of whether or not they can communicate them verbally. these feelings, as well as the capacity to suffer and therefore should be obligatorily considered and treated with respect or moral status.