Image via Unsplash.com- Hans-Jurgen Mager

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

Andrew Martin
3 min readFeb 21, 2024

--

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…

--

--

Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin

Written by Andrew Martin

Dabbler in soccer, history, investing & writing. Master’s degree in baseball history. Passionate about history, diversity, culture, sports, film and investing .

Responses (2)