Why Leonardo da Vinci Didn’t Believe Humans Were Superior To Animals

One of the greatest minds the world has ever known believed that the animal kingdom was much more equal to humanity than most

Polymath Leonardo da Vinci is still regarded as one of the greatest minds who ever lived, more than 500 years after his death. His efforts as an artist, inventor and scientist, among other pursuits, proved him to be an expert in just about everything he dabbled in. He was also one of the earliest advocates for animal rights on record, frequently speaking out on behalf of those from the beastly kingdom.

da Vinci, who lived from 1452 until 1519, embodied the Renaissance polymath, making significant contributions to art, science, and innovation. Born in Vinci, Italy, he displayed astonishing artistic ability from an early age. As he grew older, his diverse talents grew to include painting, sculpture, science, anatomy and engineering. His iconic paintings, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, showcase his mastery of realism, subtle expressions, and perspective; remaining masterpieces held in the highest regard by modern audiences.

When he wasn’t producing art, da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity led him to constantly be exploring new things. He dissected cadavers, leading to the pioneering of anatomical studies that in turn advanced medical understanding. Sketches and notes of what he studied were kept in notebooks, leaving behind a treasure trove of ideas. These included nuggets of inspiration that contributed to innovation in machinery, flight, and architecture — many of which were centuries ahead of their time.

His life reflected his era’s belief in human potential. Part of his brilliance was that he saw connections between unlike things that others did not. This included his staunch commitment to the rights and respect of animals. He is frequently noted throughout his life to have spoken out and done things in support of creatures from the wild kingdom. This included:

He often wore clothing made from linen, as he preferred to dress in items that were not “something dead.”

It was noted that da Vinci was known for purchasing caged birds at markets, only to open the doors and let them fly free. He explained that this was his small way of helping them restore their “lost liberty.” This unusual action was noted as early as 1550, by biographer Giorgio Vasari.

He was saddened by the plight of chickens and their unborn. Human consumption of eggs was so ravenous that it hurt his heart to think of the chicks that “will never come to birth.”

da Vinci reserved sympathy for lobsters as well. It was a delicacy that he could not bring himself to enjoy, as he wondered, “How cruel for one whose natural habitat is water to be made to die in boiling water.”

His stance on eating meat was clear. He thought it was barbarous, as he couldn’t stop thinking about what occurred to satiate the meat needs of humans: “From countless numbers will be taken away their little children and the throats of these shall be cut, and they shall be quartered most barbarously.”

Furthermore, he contested that humans were the king of animals, allowing only that people were simply “king of beasts.”

da Vinci was so strongly for the rights of animals, he wasn’t even prepared to claim that humans were a dominant species. He explained:

“If you are, as you have described yourself, the king of the animals, why do you help other animals only so that they may be able to give you their young in order to gratify your palate?”

da Vinci was eons ahead of his contemporaries in many ways, and perhaps even more than people of today. His mind was a veritable collection of constantly moving gears and switches, much like a clock, allowing him to produce amazing ideas and art. Given his passionate defense of animals, who’s to say that this wasn’t another area where he transcended time and common knowledge?