Meat eating ethical?

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

Anyone here know of good arguments against the notion that eating animals is unethical?

yes. It is not unethical because it is aethical.

Ethics's only fundamental justification is for the better governance of human societies. Welfare of animals relates to bondaries of ethics much the same way as welfare of coal, or iron ore.

That's a rather arbitrary distinction. Why limit ethics to humans? What's the big difference between an animal and a human that would entail that ethics is only concern when dealing with other humans?

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I disagree, the killing..and subsequently what we do with their bodies after they're dead is pretty much an afterthought.

Now before you get to thinking I'm being harsh...keep in mind that an "ethically raised" captive animal can expect a healthier life and a kinder end than any wild counterpart. Perhaps we think of the kil;ling as being the dillemma...but isn't it possible that we only think so because we have removed ourselves from wasting away or being eaten alive by some asshat feline? Just food for thought..hehehe.

This so far is the only good response but I still see holes in it. If keeping animals captive does reduce their suffering then I see no good reason against that. The problem is still the killing part. I take it that no animal wants to die, correct? You're equivocating slaughtering of animals with euthanasia. Euthanasia is done to avoid an inevitably painful death. If you have captive animals that are well cared for, a slow and painful death is not known to be inevitable especially if they're not old yet.

There's also the issue of consent. Euthanasia is thought to be acceptable if the person to be euthanized gives consent. Animals can't give consent. This is why bestiality is immoral. The animal can't give consent to have sex with one of us.

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So, if a superior alien race came to earth, would it be ethical for them to eat us?

No it would not be ethical for them to eat us but it might be ethical for us to eat them.