Monday, March 31, 2008

Excuses for Eating Meat #3 - I'm at the Top of the Food Chain

The basic argument here is as follows: "I, a human, am at the top of the food chain and thus eat everything that is below me. To show my dominance over other animals, I eat them."

Okay, fair enough. I would buy this argument if the law of the food chain still applied to a modernized society where the majority have no idea where their food comes from, let alone have taken part in it whatsoever. Yes, if you are living out in the woods/jungle/etc and demonstrate to the other creatures that you are above them by eating their brethren, that is one thing.

On the other hand, if you are showing your dominance over the other creatures by eating 50+ wings at a time at Buffalo Wild Wings, then clearly the food chain does not apply. When you have removed yourself as much as possible from the animal world in order to have more comfort, then you cannot argue that the normal laws of that world still apply. Clearly they have been altered. It is normal for all of the other animals of the world to be naked and defecate wherever they please. If this is you, then certainly go ahead and use the food chain argument for eating meat.

Humans have been able to evolve and find ways to improve our situation. There is no doubt that we no longer need to eat other animals for our own survival, and because of that, the food chain argument is a moot point.

Next, please.

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