A great friend of mine has decided to "experiment" with being vegetarian for a month to see if he'll experience any health benefits. While this was not my primary reason for a vegan diet, it is surely a reason for many. There a bountiful health benefits inclusing drasitc reduction in cancer and heart disease. I wanted to post a link to a great article written by David Yount, entitled
Eight Arguments in Favor of Eating Meat and Objections Thereto -- Before you read it, think up YOUR best rationale for eating meat (if you still do that is), and then have at it. Here is what he covers, see if your argument doesn't fall into one of these categories:
1. The Bible Argument:
“The Bible says we shall have dominion over the animals and I take that to mean that we can eat meat and use animals however we want.
Therefore, we can eat meat.”
2. The Tradition Argument:“I’ve been brought up eating meat and never questioned it.
Our culture accepts eating meat as well.
Therefore, I should be able to eat meat.”
3. The Taste Argument:
“I love the way meat tastes.
I won’t deprive myself of this.
Therefore, I should be able to eat meat.”
4. The Teeth Argument: “Our teeth are made for eating meat. All animals that have teeth like ours eat meat. So we should be able to eat meat.”
5. The Nutrition Argument:“We need the protein that is provided in meat. Therefore, we should be able to eat meat.”
6. The Darwinian/Machiavellian Argument: “The process of evolution has placed humans, the stronger, in a position to be able to use the weaker (non-human animals) for our eating and other pleasures. Other animals besides us eat meat (i.e., other animals) – are they immoral? E.g., if the lion eats the zebra, that isn’t morally wrong. So it’s a natural instinct we have to eat meat. Therefore, we should be able to eat meat.”
7. The A-moral Beings Argument: “Non-human animals are a-moral beings. Non-human animals cannot question their actions like humans can, and this is what makes humans special. If beings cannot question how they live, then they have no intrinsic worth or rights. Therefore, we should be able to eat meat.”
8. The Intelligence/Rationality Argument:“Humans are more intelligent and more rational than non-humans. These characteristics give us the right or opportunity to be able to use non-humans for food. Therefore, we should be able to eat meat.”
Of course, he brilliantly and simply refutes every single one of the above. The result, for the average meat eater -- is that they end up agreeing "technically" or "philosophically" they shouldn't eat meat, but then continue to do so because the addiction is too strong.
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~yount/text/meatarg.htmlIt's important to point out that much of this holds true for the poultry and dairy industry as well, as animals are torture and killed in the production of milk and eggs.
