Quote:
Originally Posted by Freebase Dali
So just because we were intelligent enough to fabricate a basic human standard and all the other animals weren't, we should deny our same basic needs just because we can?
That doesn't make much sense to me in the grand scheme of things.
|
Well, yes. Humans do not
need to eat meat to survive--millions of living vegans attest to that. And the primary human motivation for eating meat is not need--in most cases it is convenience and pleasure. Our basic needs are not the same as all other animals. Humans have the ability to farm, to store and preserve food. These are luxuries that other animals--who do need to eat meet--do not have. And that moral standards were "fabricated" by humans does not mean they are superfluous or not worth adhering to. Why should we act morally at all if there is personal gain in acting immorally?
Quote:
|
If life was truly and objectively valuable, then our 'lesser' animals wouldn't be eating meat either, by virtue of whatever higher force deemed us all valuable to begin with.
|
I don't understand this point, perhaps you could clarify? As for life being 'objectively' valuable: all living things wish to sustain themselves and to be free of suffering. Because I, as a human, am intelligent enough to understand that it should also therefore be my duty to respect it.