Would they be justified?

Question

I have recently taken up vegetarianism. I found this quote by John Harris:

"Suppose that tomorrow a group of beings from another planet were to land on Earth, beings who considered themselves as superior to you as you feel yourself to be to other animals. Would they have the right to treat you as you treat the animals you breed, keep and kill for food?" --John Harris (1946- )

I do NOT intend for this to be a discussion of vegetarianism, of extra-terrestrial life, but simply to be a discussion of this hypothetical question. If advanced aliens landed on Earth, and started "taming us" for meat, and slaughtering us and eating us, would it be okay?

Answer 1

I wouldn't like it but what is the difference between us and them?

Answer 2

Byron Arnold,
I think that most vegetarians would quit what they were doing if there was a huge disaster. You see, I'm under the impression that vegetarianism is a product of civilization. No supplies, anything looks good enough to eat.

But now, sprouts are available, stores carry everything, and vegetarians are religiousl;y satiffied with tofu and veggies galore! One big earthqueake later, and all those wonderful supplies are lost. That would mean that it's time for some dog, cat, squirrel, bird, whatever you can catch. There are things you could eat that are growing, but how many people know about Carissa macrocarpa, or purslane, or Hemerocallus? Hmmm?

About aliens: It would be killin' time if I could fight, I would fight!

Answer 3

You know what?....That is a very good question. I don't think it would go over very well with everyone, considering that they are all going to be killed to feed their hunger. I do think that there may not be anything that we could do about it, and we would have to live or die by that fact. We cannot pier into the minds of animals and hear what they think, but you know they may have the same emotions about the situation as well. It's a very hard topic to discuss. The aliens may not be able to understand us as well. It may be that relationship all over again. Evolution is going to eventually happen. We may still be the lowest form of life in the universe. The only thing is, we have no idea.

Answer 4

First, let's think about what it would take for any alien race to develop to a point where they could travel the Universe. It's hard to believe they would travel just to find food. The natural motivation for space travel would be exploration (or least strategic conquest,) not food shopping.

Second, it's hard to imagine that we would be able to find food fit to consume outside of this planet. It's seems likely that all of our germs and bacteria would kill an alien race if they ate us.

Would it be ok? Of course not. Would it be ok for us to travel to a distant world and eat the inhabitants?

I'm not sure it's right for us to eat animals, but this is the way we have evolved. Many of us have blood types that actually require animal protein to stay healthy. Perhaps, as we continue to evolve, it wil become less and less necessary.

Gwen

Answer 5

The question is absurd. If other hypothetical beings CONSIDERED themselves superior to beings who are created in God's own image and likeness, that wouldn't make them superior. That however has nothing to do with the relationship between humans and animals, because human beings ARE superior to animals because that's how God made us. It was God Himself who raised us above the status of mere animals, and gave us full dominion over them. So the two scenarios are not even comparable.

Answer 6

that's in simple terms it, i do no longer bypass around justifying something. i bypass approximately my organization awaiting to be universal and respected. I supply the honour that i desire given decrease back to me, and definitely i do no longer many times have any problems with having it. of direction, I comprehend the incontrovertible fact that i'm no longer wearing a domestic dog gown to the food market and humping rocks in all probability makes issues somewhat much less complicated for me. L

Answer 7

If a group of beings came to earth to eat us. I don't think they would be disuaded by whether or not we ate other animals. So whether we felt it was okay or not would probably have no impact on their intention, other than if we gave them reason to go somewhere else for food.

Answer 8

the dominant species should always be in control of the lesser ones. it would b the right thing for the aliens to do, we jus wouldnt like it. same with animals, they're hear for us to eat and live off of...they may not like it, but until they can rebel and kill us all, we are the dominant ones so we control them.

and YES, there is extraterrestrial life out there.

Answer 9

If they were advanced, they would understand that creatures with the ability to speak and write in language, create and solve mathematical equations, think self-reflexively about their existence, and so forth, would not be beasts. So, they would be able to comprehend that eating us would be a version of cannibalism.

Answer 10

No because there is no such things as 'aliens' or 'beings' from another plantet. Wrong section to post your question and beliefs concerning meat eating or vegetarianism.

Answer 11

First of all would we have a choice, if not I think you would see a lot of dead aliens and my answer would be no!