To all vegetarians: Do plants have feelings like animals do?

Question

Ok. You talk about cruelty to animals and I totally agree with how cruel it is the way they are raised and treated before they become food on our dinner plates. But I was wondering, has it ever been disproven that plants have feelings? When we pluck tomatoes or pick green beans, isn't that cruelty to vegetables? Please let me know what you think of this. Thank you.

You don't have to be mean, Beebs. I'm not judging anyone or trying to make myself feel less guilty about eating meat. I was just wondering. Daggum, you seem so sensitive on this issue. How are we supposed to learn if we don't ask??

Answer 1

No, it has not been disproved that plants don't have feelings, but it has not been proved either.

From a evolutionary standpoint it makes no sense for plants to feel pain. The ability to feel pain has evolved in sentient beings such as ourselves as a way to warn us when we are being harmed so we can escape for the situation. Since plants have no means in which to escape harm it makes no sense as to why they would evolve the ability to feel pain.

P.S. Beebs that was pretty harsh. The asker seems to be asking a genuine question here. Yes we have heard it all a million times, but that gives us no right to pounce on someone who may have never thought of this before. Also FYI Veins have nothing to do with feeling pain, they return de-oxygenated blood to the heart.

Answer 2

Of course not. Plants do not have a brain and a brain is required to have pain receptors.

Regardless of that, don't listen to beebs' post above mine. She probably asked the same question not that long ago and got her answer from it being explained to her and reading it here. She is also not a vegetarian. She eats fish..which DO have pain receptors. She is what we call a hypocrite.

Answer 3

There is absolutely no proof that vegetables have feelings. There have been numerous tests and observations carried out on animals, and it has been proven that they have feelings.
This is one of those stupid questions that us vegetarians get asked constantly, although i realise and respect that you are not asking it to disresepct us.
So no, i do not in any way believe that vegetables, fruit, etc etc have feelings...after all they do not have hearts and brains like animals.

Answer 4

Don't listen to beebs, she's a hypocrite anyway. She thinks that we shouldn't kill animals yet she'll sometimes eat fish.

As you can see from the many people (who don't jump down people's throats...) they don't have a central nervous system that causes us as well as animals to feel pain.

Answer 5

Plants don't have brains or central nervous systems. Those would be the basics needed to feel or have feelings. Plants are the one thing on Earth designed to be eaten. It promotes their growth through pruning and spreading of seed through feces.

Answer 6

No...no brains=no feelings. However there are some people who will only eat fruit or vegetables that has already fallen off the tree, vine, or whatever it grows on. To tell you the truth I was almost like that for...a few hours...because a fruit is like that tree's zygote and it was off-putting to learn that. Then I assured myself that it was really, really okay to eat fruits and veggies.

Answer 7

Plants do not have a central nervous system which would allow them to feel pain.
They also do not possess the Limbic area of the brain to allow them to feel basic emotions such as fear and sorrow.

Animals do. The animals you eat spend their entire lives in constant pain, fear and sadness.
___________

Also, vegetarians eat fewer plants than meat-eaters do.
When you eat 1 pound of dead cow, that pound of dead cow took 20 pounds of grain to make it.

__________
In the past 20 years approximately 1 million species have disappeared from the world's tropical forests.

From 1960-1985 over 40% of the central american rainforests were destroyed to create grazing land for cattle.

It takes 23 gallons of water to produce a pound of tomatoes.
It takes 5,214 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef.

One acre of land can produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes.
One acre of land can produce 165 pounds of beef.

The u.s. cattle industry produces 158 million tons of waste per year.
Livestock production is the #1 cause of water pollution in the u.s.
22 million acres of land have become unusable due to desertification.

85% of the topsoil loss in t he u.s. is the result of livestock production.

It takes 1 pound of grain to make 1 pound of bread.
It takes 20 pounds of grain to make 1 pound of beef.

75% of the grain sent to third world nations goes to livestock production

Answer 8

Plants don't have brains, so where would feelings come from.

Answer 9

Have you graduated from first grade? If so, you will have been taught that plants do not have a central nervous system making them capable of feeling pain, no brain to register pain with, and no veins, nerves and nerve endings for feeling pain. I do not "kill" my plants when I pick their fruit of vegetables-the plant keeps right on growing. If I pick a cucumber today, two more will be in its place tomorrow. No, no cruelty involved-just yummy veggies and fruits. The plants are happy to give them up, and they would just rot on the vine if not picked. The same cannot be said for harmless animals that are exposed to deplorable living conditions, cruel slaughter, and death. The veggie feeling pain thing is something meat eaters in denial delude themselves with, just so they don't have to feel guilty. As for proof? No nervous system means no pain. I have been vegetarian for years, and have yet to find any blood, guts, or brains in any of my lovely veggies. Proof enough for me

Answer 10

dude they don't have any nerves,or a brain so how r they suppose to feel?