Is it wrong to eat meat?

Question

I am a philosophy student in my second year of A-levels. A little while ago, we were having discussions on eating meat. I do eat meat, and was arguing for it. But, the more I argued, the more I realised it's wrong to kill animals to eat it. These are the reasons why it's wrong:

1) We've been doing it for a long time.
A:This doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. We used to believe slavery was right for a long time, before we questioned it. Just because it had been going on for so long didn't make slavery right.

2) We're more intelligent.
A: Yes, but this still doesn't make it right. Using this argument means it should be perfectly acceptable to eat people with mental disabilities, but it is obviously not. It is speciest.

3) We breed animals to eat.
A: Again, true but this again does nor make it right.
Imagine aliens come to our planet, who are much more advanced than us, and tell us they are going to eat us. We protest saying it's not fair, but they simply say, 'but you eat the lower species on your planet'.
We then argue that we breed them for this. They reply; 'we've been breeding you for years. You've obviously not known about it until now'.
Animals do not know they are being bred for food.

I do not want to give it up, but it is hypocritical of me to carry on eating it, as I do not believe it is right. Should I therefore become a vegitarian?

Answer 1

if you believe it is wrong and you still do it, then you are definitely a hypocrite. I'm not judging whether or not it is wrong. that is each person's choice. But it sounds to me like you have weak character if you cannot bring yourself to give it up even though you think it's wrong.

Answer 2

Yes. I think you've answered your own question. If you don't believe it's right, then don't do it. You should always follow your conscience. You can buy fake meats of just about every variety. There aren't many things you would have to give up. I feed meals made from fake meat to meat-eaters all the time and they never notice it's not real, they always say how nice the meal was. With things like Lasagna, Shepherds Pie, Stew and Chillie or Sausage Rolls you won't even notice. With plain meat, you will see a difference, but the fakes are just as nice. (There are some ghastly meat substitutes but I never buy them, so just stop buying any that aren't delicious. Those made from tofu taste nothing like meat, though some people like them as a food in their own right).



Endless studies have shown that cooking meat creates substances that are extremely harmful to your body. The only time meat is healthy is when it's raw, and I'm sure you don't want to eat raw meat, few people do. So the only reason to carry on eating it is taste, and honestly, there are so many delicious vegetarian foods - both fake meat and other kinds - you probably wouldn't miss real meat. My Grandpa, started buying Vegetarian sausages instead of real just because he preferred them.

Answer 3

You don't necessarily have to go veg. You could instead become a "more compassionate" meat-eater and instead try to consume free-range meat, or simply consume less of it. I started out veg for the same reasons you've listed, but the more I learn about the meat industry and the way it treats people and livestock, the more happy I've been to leave it all behind. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!



(Also, as an ethics student you may enjoy Fast-Food Nation.)

Answer 4

I think it is wrong to eat meat.

-I too would compare slavery to slaughter houses, as it is the same concept. Taking something from their natural habitat and forcing them to live and go where you want them. Then beating them when you want to. And eventually killing them.



-I don't think we're smarter than animals. When it comes to heating then yeah, but put a human and a cow in the wild together, assuming the human doesn't kill the cow, the cow would probably survive longer.



-We treat them inhumanly and we take them out of their natural habitat.



If you believe eating meat is wrong, then become a vegetarian.

You will feel better, of course if you do it right, and you will add years to your life. And you will be saving the environment.



To the idiot who said that vegetarians eat the things that give us oxygen, he's stupid. He's eating the thing that eats the thing that gives us oxygen.



So sweetie, if you think it's wrong then yeah it would be hypocritical of you to continue eating meat.

Answer 5

I am a vegetarian. My entire family eats meat.

So I have heard arguments for both causes.

And in my opinion, eating meat is slightly cruel, but justifiable.

If you like meat or need the protein, then you don't need to deprive yourself.

If you want to, then I say why not go vegetarian? It is kind and healthy, and is a lifestyle worth looking into.

There's also a happy medium, by just cutting down your meat, or eating foods that are lower on the food chain.

Whatever you decide to do, I think it is sweet that you considered it.

Answer 6

No, most people find nothing wrong with eating meat. But it doesn't mean you should eat meat if you feel uneasy doing so. One thing about eating is you can have a choice. If you don't want to eat meat then don't.



DonkeyBot - it's starting again isn't it? Deletion of your answers. Told you so. Some people just aren't smart enough to learn anything. Though they like to pretend otherwise, right?

Answer 7

Go to peta.org and watch the video meet your meat and look at some pictures. That will probably give you your answer. And yes, I believe it is wrong to eat meat. Animals suffer extreme pain and torture for us. And I believe that animals are very intelligent; they feel, think, express themselves, love, are loyal, protect, etc.

Answer 8

Hi !



Wow ! I seriously can not believe that you compared eating animals to slavery. Those two have nothing in common.



Your reasons for hypocrisy on the subject of eating meat sound like someone else's reasons for being vegetarian.

This sounds like conformity to me more than your own desires. Yes, we have been eating meat for a long time, this is how human beings' intelligence grew.

How is it that, because we are intelligent, that we choose not to eat meat, but somewhat non-living plant life instead? We choose to have a bigger stomach and smaller brain, you need more plant life to live than you do meat.

Choose to become a vegetarian, not because of hypocrisy, but because you so choose. Are not vegetarians hypocritical ? Vegetarians choose to not eat meat for animal cruelty, yet, they will wear and use products made from animals.

Answer 9

Well vegetarians believe animals are living things that are suffering so we can eat them, but animals live breath and basicallly are like us.



meat eaters believe animals were put on the planet for us to eat and be healthy



whichever side you believe with more go with that.

Answer 10

I believe that it is wrong to eat meat, but it is also wrong to belittle people who do eat it.

Answer 11

Here's an idea: try being for a vegetarian for a month or two. There's nothing that would prevent you from going back to eating meat and there's no real loss if you do.

Answer 12

We are omnivores for a reason. There are many essential nutrients that our bodies cannot get without meat. B12 only exists in food that comes from a beating heart. I don't want to live on supplements for the rest of my life. It is the key to a healthy lifestyle to eat a healthy, moderate, adequate, balanced and nutritious diet. This includes all of the major food groups. I am an omnivore and I know that I am healthier than every vegan/vegetarian I have ever met. I have plenty of energy and I rarely get sick. I don't take any supplements and I watch my fat and K cal intake. I eat about 8-12 OZ. of red meat a week. Most of my protein comes from fish.



P.S. If poultry or livestock could eat us, do NOT think they wouldn't.

Answer 13

Yes, it is something you clearly feel passionately about. They are valid points. Excellent points - we'd sh!t ourselves if we were told we were to be eaten alive.







Here is a good website on going vegan/vegetarian:

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianvegan101/qt/HowtogoVeg.htm



and here is one that has loads of information on it:



http://veganfaq.blogspot.com/search/label/But%20dairy%20and%20eggs%20don't%20actually%20harm%20animals%20right%3F

Answer 14

Okay thumbs down me if you must but:



Yes, we may be smarter than animals. But, that doesn't mean we can call them inferior, slaughter them, and use them for our own selfish purposes.

Answer 15

it is your very own choice, dont let anyone else make it for you. follow what you believe in and stick with it,(if you want to). =]

Answer 16

If you think it is wrong to eat meat, don't eat it.

Answer 17

I agree with all of your arguments, and I think you'd be really hypocritical to believe such things and still eat meat.

Answer 18

yes. you don't need meat to be healthy



go vegetarian. there is plenty of tasty food

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/vegetarian

Answer 19

It is not wrong to eat meat.

Answer 20

i dont beleive that it is wrong