jfc the mirror test isn't fully indicative of self-awareness, it's one test you can run.

self-awareness means you can actually sense your own being, personality, thought patterns and turn your thoughts inward. 99.999% of animals can't do that, they're only stimulated externally. there's like elephants and whales that are showing maybe signs of this.

this is why no one gives a fuck about cattle idk why it's so hard for vegans to understand. cows and pigs are so functionally retarded that they would die off without human cohabitation.

you can argue for better treatment and most people would actually be on board, but no one's completely stopping growing/eating a hunk of meat with a pulse. in fact we euthanize people who get to that state