"Humane" implies being like a human, therefore putting human behavior above all other animals (animals which may, for example, kill and eat other animals for food). If we place ourselves on such a pedestal, it begs the question of why other animals deserve humane treatment if we openly acknowledge that they are beneath us. What do you think?
Brock, your dictionary example is not very relevant since it could be that the inclusion of animals in that one particular definition is simply based on the modern use of the word. If we look at the etymology of the word "humane", which looks at the origins of the word, we can clearly see how it comes from the word "human".
Brock, your dictionary example is not very relevant since it could be that the inclusion of animals in that one particular definition is simply based on the modern use of the word. If we look at the etymology of the word "humane", which looks at the origins of the word, we can clearly see how it comes from the word "human".