Possibility

Is a person a human, only? I mean, it's just a word. what does that word mean to you?

Recently it has come to my attention that many people do not consider animals to be, or have a person in and of themselves. I have asked this question in one other forum and it seems that most people believe, and very adamantly, that only a human is innately a person.

When I look up the word person in the dictionary, it reflects this sentiment. DIY

Upon my investigative questioning it seems, to me anyway, that this is nothing but belief in people, and that they are not capable of explaining their belief beyond saying well that’s what we are told to believe because it makes us feel better than if we believed otherwise.

Of course we are told what to believe by our socially authorizing systems of government including by not limited to the law, and the church and any other social body that we identify ourselves with. These could include any kind of media, or communicative modality.

But it seems to me and, it is just my opinion, that we believe this for no other reason than to massage our psychological needs to feel superior to other animals and as if our obvious abilities were not enough.

I am sure one can derive my views on the subject by my language if they care to think.
But I want to know what you guys think.