History WhatMeasureIsANonHuman / Literature

--->"[A]ny creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws."\\

-->"[A]ny creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws."\\
*** Centaurs qualified as beings under this standard, but opted out.

* ''{{Animorphs}}'' called attention to this one. The main characters are humans who resist an invasion of aliens called Yeerks while maintaining a {{Masquerade}} to the effect that this resistance consists not of humans, but of Andalites, a species of alien opposed to the Yeerks. One Yeerk figures out the truth by noticing that these supposed "Andalites" have killed many nonhuman aliens, but have seldom or never a human. Not to say that the killing of sentient aliens doesn't have an effect on the group (the leader laters suffers serious psychological problems because, near the end of the series, he orders several thousand sentient creatures killed with one punch of a button. And it wasn't particularly necessary.)

* In ''{{Temeraire}}'' book series most European non-riders consider dragons to be talking animals and nothing more, even if they clearly are sentient beings. Captainless dragons on breeding grounds are thought to be savage beast due to lack of smoothing human influence. Even Laurence seems to think this way at the beginning. There is a memorable scene in which he sees nothing wrong in killing a sea serpent because he can't use human language. Temeraire is upset, as he still considers this creature to be similar himself. In later books they discover that other countries like China, Tswana tribe and [[spoiler: France]] give dragons equal status to humans, the chance to amass their own property, and a place in a political system. Then a group of dragons with their own language and culture is introduced. Dragon characters without a human companion are presented as rational if a little [[OrangeAndBlueMorality alien]] beings. All of this makes Temeraire ask ''very uncomfortable'' questions.

* Used for a brief moment of drama near the end of Stephen Baxter's ''Manifold: Space''. Nemoto, a woman who remains on Earth, has usually communicated with protagonists traveling in space with holographic projections. One, however, is [[ProjectedMan different]]--an advanced "limited-sentience projection", basically a copy of Nemoto's personality in a holographic "body". The characters, who have been away for subjective centuries due to relativity, have to ask what a "limited-sentience projection" is. Virtual Nemoto explains, bringing the concept into her awareness, then has just enough time to look horrified before her time expires and she evaporates into unbound light.

* In {{Temeraire}} book series most European non-riders consider dragons to be talking animal and nothing more, even if they clearly are sentient beings. Captainless dragons on breeding grounds are thought to be savage beast due to lack of smoothering human influence. Even Laurence seems to think this way at the beginning. There is a memorable scene, in which he sees nothing wrong in killing a sea serpent, because he can’t use human language. Temeraire is upset, as he still considers this creature to be similar himself. In later books they discover that other countries like China, Tsuwa tribe and [[spoiler: France]] give dragons equal status to humans, ownership and place in a political system. Then a group of dragons, with their own language and culture is introduced. Dragon characters without a human companion are presented as rational if a little [[OrangeAndBlueMorality alien]] beings. All of this makes Temeraire ask very uncomfortable questions.

* The orcs in ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'' have names and personalities, and seem to be mildly intelligent -- they speak to each other much as normal people do. Do they also have families? Are there any female orcs, or orc children? It's never addressed, and orcs are slaughtered by the thousands in several bloody battles. Of course, it helps that their [[AlienBlood blood is black instead of red]].
** No. There are no female orcs, there are no child orcs.
** Of course, the orcs WERE in a war with the races of man, and they did start it (Or at least, their bosses did). Killing them was less about them being monsters and more about them being members of an enemy army.
*** But human enemies were always offered the chance to surrender and go home after they were defeated. Orcs were killed to the last man, whenever possible, even referred to as vermin. This despite of the fact that it was shown that a major percentage of the orcs were slaves driven to war against their will.
*** Human enemies often ''try'' to surrender; orcs are never shown to do that- they either fight to the last, or run away if their side is obviously losing. WordOfGod says that things like torture and war crimes are also still evil when the victim is an orc- ''they're'' AlwaysChaoticEvil, but that doesn't give ''everyone else'' the right to act like them.

* The majority of the human colonists of the planet Athshe in ''The Word for World is Forest'' have no qualms about beating, raping, and killing the native populace. Casually and derogatorily referred to as "creechies", the Athsheans are clearly viewed as lesser beings than humans.

* In the {{Xanth}} book ''A Spell For Chameleon'' by PiersAnthony, a manticore asks a wizard whether it, only being 10% human, has a soul like they do. The answer is that the mere act of wondering whether one has a soul is proof of having one.

*** On the other hand, they'll happily use LaserGuidedAmnesia on Muggles for their own convenience, and Ron mind-whammies his driving instructor because he couldn't be bothered to check his mirrors even just once. The good guys may not kill Muggles but they sure as hell don't display much respect for them as people.
** The wizarding world has thought this out extensively, befitting a society full of {{Half Human Hybrid}}s and {{talking animal}}s. According to ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', in 1811 the Minister for Magic decreed that a "being" (as opposed to a "beast") is

** Infuriatingly, [[spoiler: the movie version scraps all of that, despite leaving clues about their sentience and intelligence throughout the film, in favor of a "KILL ALL THE FILTHY BEASTS IN A BLAZE OF SELF SACRIFICIAL GLORY" approach. They originally filmed an ending that was true to the book, but apparently, the test audience hated it, and it was replaced with the stereotypical monster film ending. The original, peaceful resolution is included on the DVD as the "controversial alternative ending". Humans are Bastards, indeed.]]

** It also has this to the point where some of the heroes are trying to save the souls of [[strike:Demons]] fallen angels. [[spoiler: and it works in the case of Lash. Or rather, an imprinted copy of the Fallen Angel Lasciel in Harry's mind. Actual fallen angels are said to be irredeemable, and even the Knights of the Cross who follow HonorBeforeReason are amazed that it is even possible for a fallen's shadow to do a HeelFaceTurn.]] The books follow the trope to an extend: ghouls, [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Red & Black Court vampires]], being AlwaysChaoticEvil and ugly, are mowed down by the dozen. [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Zombies]], being reanimated corpses, are crushed with not even a single thought. Even [[TheRenfield Renfields]], humans who have been irreversibly brainwashed into serving [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Black Court vampires]], are treated as {{mooks}} by everyone except Lt. Murphy, who being a police officer, has trouble killing anything human.

*** On the other hand, they'll happily modify Muggles' memories for their own convenience, and Ron mind-whammies his driving instructor because he couldn't be bothered to check his mirrors even just once. The good guys may not kill Muggles but they sure as hell don't display much respect for them as people.

** This trope goes far beyond the treatment of animals and magical creatures, however. Almost everything in the series with a sufficient level of enchantment on it shows some degree of personality and even intelligence. Many of these things are clearly aware of their environments and some can even speak or communicate through other means. Such examples include photos and portraits, quills, a car, some of the more complicated toys and gadgets, and of course the dreaded Horcroix, though those are treated differently. Absolutely no one in the series treats these as anything other than objects to be treated or destroyed as their owners see fit.

* ''The Swiss Family Robinson''. Just ''The Swiss Family Robinson''.
** PleaseElaborate

* Subverted in JKRowling's ''{{Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}'', during the scene where Umbridge clashes with the resident centaur herd. She's scared stiff of part-humans and addresses herself as having authority to command them, but as the centaurs themselves state, "[their] intelligence far outstrips [her] own".

** The wizarding world has thought this out extensively, befitting a society full of {{Half Human Hybrid}}s and {{talking animal}}s. According to ''FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', in 1811 the Minister for Magic decreed that a "being" (as opposed to a "beast") is

-->"[A]ny creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws."

* In the novelisation of ''Film/IronMan 2'', Tony notes that he doesn't feel compelled to hold back against the Hammeroids the way he would against humans. Of course, since they are piloted by remote control, they are almost definitely non-sentient. Whoever turns off Vanko's computer after the end of the movie might be due for some soul-searching, though.

* A bizarre inversion occurs in ''[[NightWatch Twilight Watch]]''. The main hero Anton practically has to enforce this maxima upon himself before he can resolve to face a renegade vampire and his ex-friend Kostya. As expressed in his briefing with the head of the Watch Gesser:

'''Gesser:'''"Wrong words, watchman. Say it right."\\

'''Gesser:'''[Nods approvingly]
** Not so bizarre, given the series (and the author in general). "[[DesignatedHero Good guys]]" used to be just as much of jerks...

* Averted in ''PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. Monsters don't die permanently, so any question of sentience is void.

** The fairies themselves subvert this. Fairy spiritual law [[ApeShallNeverKillApe forbids them from killing one]] another. They extend this sentiment to trolls, despite the fact that trolls are extremely dangerous animals and definitely not sapient.

** This trope was also used to demonstrate how [[AxCrazy insane]] SixthColumn David actually was. He claimed that he would never kill another human, but the minute he transforms for the first time (as an eagle) he dive-bombs and kills a real bird for no reason. This very nastily foreshadows his complete lack of objections to trying to murder the other Animorphs while they were [[{{Animorphism}} transformed]], since he would "just be killing an animal". He also didn't have a problem with trying to kill Ax, who was an alien.

** The BigBad was bringing FairyTales to life. In the fairy tale, the Big Bad Wolf behaves like a human, but it's okay to kill him like a wolf. By burying him as if he were human, Granny was fighting the story. So Pratchett was playing with how the story of LittleRedRidingHood is an example of this trope, making it OlderThanPrint.