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Originally Posted by Orgazmo
What about the argument that cows / pigs / etc are prolific because they're domesticated. And they're domesticated because they're easy to slaughter + they taste good.
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I think to understand the argument, one has to spend a lot of time thinking about what the "experience" of being that animal must be like from birth to death, raised in a factory farm (and even in Nature, where animals are constantly dying and suffering from starvation, thirst, parasites, infection...I defer to Dent on that subject).
The idea is that it's a form of slavery to other beings. I feel like in the West it is rare to have this kind of perspective, although it is growing. Many don't see these animals as other beings, capable of feeling emotion (which anyone who has spent time around a dog or pet pig can clearly see they do) and suffering. We see it as a sort of mobile food. But if we are honest there is no real difference between Fido and a nice beef steak.
Eating meat obviously contributed greatly to humanity's survival migrating around the planet out of the jungles and plains of Africa. This is why it is so normal for us to eat meat; unless one is born into a culture (like parts of India) where meat-eating is simply not done. However even in 2016, it's not like everyone has access to affordable, vegetarian food. So many people currently must continue to eat meat or starve (this is a luxury in our various countries we don't often think about.)
The reason vegans and animal rights activists have primarily surfaced in the last 75 years is that only in the last 75 years has the common working-class man had enough leisure time and reasonable level of comfort (in the First World anyways) to sit back and contemplate the fact that: while we evolved throughout history, we are now at a point in time where we can consciously decide and think about what we are eating and change it.
The basic sell for me is suffering. If I am realistic about the amount of suffering animal husbandry causes worldwide, both to the animals, their offspring, and to human health by over-consumption of meat (we really don't need that much), it's staggering. It's a staggering amount of suffering that; while I may not feel it directly as a chicken in a cage does, if I am intellectually and emotionally honest with myself, my actions (eating meat) are directly linked an in a way cause that suffering to take place.
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The one thing I remember verbatim from my Evolutionary Anthropology course is the definition of "fitness:" An individual's genetic representation in future generations. And fitness drives evolution.
In short: Cows and Pigs, as species, are winning by being delicious and domesticated.
Any merit in that?
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This has some merit from a strictly evolutionary basis...if you think that the cows and pigs are somehow benefiting from evolutionary fitness success by being bred, fed unnatural diets in cramped conditions surrounded by their own filth, only to be slaughtered wholesale for human consumption is somehow "winning" the game of evolution, I don't think there's much merit to that argument. However yeah they are definitely winning the taste olympics!
Also just for the record I can't wait to see what DH has to say on this matter.
