are vegetarians more ethical by not eating meat?

[justin]

One claim made by vegetarians is that it is people should not kill and eat animals because it is unethical. I believe it is just as ethical to be a meat eater if not more ethical.

1- animals are consumers which feed on plants. They have adapted by consuming plants that make sugars and feeding themselves (most of them). Therefore under deontological theory they have broken a duty which is when we define it as unethical. This action was taken on a free agents choice to kill and consume the life of the plants which have not broken the ethical theory. Therefore would it not be ethical to consume the consumers do to the fact that willingly feed on other life (other meat eaters apply). Meaning we would no longer have decide whether to break the ethical code to kill and consume the consumer. While this has be chosen to do so by us or else it would according to the 2nd dimension of categorical imperative be unethical because if not
freely acted then the alternative would be by force.

2-if you were making a choice to deprive yourself from meat you would still be taking innocent life. A life that has adapted to being reliant upon it's self. You also are in a sense approving of self-destruction by neglect to necessary nutrition. You would have to consume many vitamins, supplements and still be deprived of certain things

- http://drlwilson.com/Articles/vegetablediets.htm

So in doing this you are bringing about harm to you're body of which you have the knowledge and capability to avoid. No more than cutting being ethical should these freely acted diets beconsidered ethical.

So what do you think?

[Minimalist]

I had a steak tonight.

It was delicious.

[justin]

I had a steak tonight.

It was delicious.

My favorite! Love red meats.

[jstrodel]

I used to be a vegan. I think it is more ethical, better for the environment, causes less suffering. I don't think it is required though

[justin]

I used to be a vegan. I think it is more ethical, better for the environment, causes less suffering. I don't think it is required though

What do you think of my view? Just curious. Also why would you say it is ethical? And better for the environment?

[jstrodel]

One claim made by vegetarians is that it is people should not kill and eat animals because it is unethical. I believe it is just as ethical to be a meat eater if not more ethical.

1- animals are consumers which feed on plants. They have adapted by consuming plants that make sugars and feeding themselves (most of them). Therefore under deontological theory they have broken a duty which is when we define it as unethical.
This action was taken on a free agents choice to kill and consume the life of the plants which have not broken the ethical theory. Therefore would it not be ethical to consume the consumers do to the fact that willingly feed on other life (other meat eaters apply). Meaning we would no longer have decide whether to break the ethical code to kill and consume the consumer. While this has be chosen to do so by us or else it would according to the 2nd dimension of categorical imperative be unethical because if not
freely acted then the alternative would be by force.

You are applying Kantian ethics to animals behavior... I do not think plants or animals have any sort of duties. I also don't think those duties are reasonable to believe if atheism/naturalism is true. I don't think animals have duties and even less so if atheism/naturalism is true.

2-if you were making a choice to deprive yourself from meat you would still be taking innocent life. A life that has adapted to being reliant upon it's self. You also are in a sense approving of self-destruction by neglect to necessary nutrition. You would have to consume many vitamins, supplements and still be deprived of certain things

- http://drlwilson.com/Articles/vegetablediets.htm

So in doing this you are bringing about harm to you're body of which you have the knowledge and capability to avoid. No more than cutting being ethical should these freely acted diets be considered ethical.
So what do you think?

I do not think there are such a thing as "animal rights" but I think people have some duties to preserve both plants and animals and to eliminate unnecessary suffering. I think that vegan/vegetarian lifestyle does eliminate unnecessary suffering and it does help the environment. I do not think that because there are unintended animal deaths associated with vegan diet or plant deaths that this means that a course of action that will result in less plant and animal destruction over the long term is the wrong course.

People are going to kill some animals no matter what happens, that is just the way life is. I think it is just a matter of how many, if you kill mosquitos, that is bad to do.

People in the Bible do eat animals and sacrifice however. I do not think it is actually a sin to do but it does not condemn the one whose conscience convicts him.

I am not very zealous about it but I do think it is a good thing.

[KichigaiNeko]

To answer your question as to "holiness" = No vegans and vegetarians are incapable of commanding the moral "high ground"..not when you consider that meat eating got them to where they are today irrespective of their current preferences.

[pocaracas]

We've evolved as omnivores.
It is our genetic pre-disposition to eat anything... and our parents or caretakers should teach us what not to eat. That's why kids just thrust everything in their mouths.
It would be disrespectful to our ancestors to abstain from eating something that allowed them to live.

On the other hand, as long as you get your proteins, and all other nutrients you need, I don't care where you get them from... and your ancestors probably don't care either....as long as you don't get them from me or my family.

[frankiej]

I'd be miserable without meat... There isn't any substitute. Sure, you can get your nutrients elsewhere, but in terms of taste, meat trumps all.

Meat is readily available and cheaper than lots of other things. To me, it is simply a matter of survival. Morality doesn't come into it.

[justin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqGB11V0y...ata_player

But no seriously meat is awesome. You may see a cow, but i see a meal