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How did Immanuel Kant distinguish humans from nonhuman organisms in his account of moral duties?

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Three PETA protesters in animal masks and green clothing hold signs reading No Fur at a demonstration against fur in clothing at a shopping district in Seoul, South Korea. — Animal rights A PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) demonstration in Seoul, South Korea, against the use of animals for fur in clothing.

In the context of applied ethics and animal rights, Immanuel Kant distinguished between humans and nonhuman organisms based on the concept of moral autonomy.1

Kant argued for a deontological, or duty-based, framework in which moral standing is reserved for entities capable of moral autonomy. According to his view:1

Human Beings: Humans are considered morally autonomous entities because they possess the capacity for practical reason, allowing them to act according to universal moral laws rather than mere desire. Consequently, humans have direct moral duties to one another.123
Nonhuman Organisms: Because nonhuman organisms are not morally autonomous, Kant maintained that humans do not have direct moral duties toward them.1

This perspective stands in contrast to other ethical frameworks, such as utilitarianism, which argues that moral standing should be extended to nonhuman animals based on their capacity to experience pleasure and pain.1