A question about morals for vegetarians?

Question

I have been tossing around the idea of vegetarianism for a few years now, not really because of moral reasons but because of health reasons. But the question i have, for those who chose this lifestyle because of morals, has to do with human anatomy.
It is obvious through human anatomy such as special organs that aide in the breakdown of meats, and the fact that we have teeth that are meant for carnivorous eating. What i would like to is this: Is the reasoning for your morals choice of a vegetarinian lifestyle because of the way animals are treated now-a-days in order to mass produce meat, or is it simply because of killing animals all together. Because I agree that the way animals are treated now-a-days is immoral, but I'm also lost for the fact that our bodies are designed to eat meat.

Answer 1

I hate the way animals are 'mass-produced" and not really given a life. I also don't like animals getting slaughtered. They do object and make lots of noise. And they don't want to be hurt, they feel pain. That is the reasoning for my meat-avoidance. And also, the idea of eating dead flesh is completely repulsive.

If someone lives on a farm and raises some animals, giving them a pasture, and a bit of a life, then I think it's acceptable to gently tell your animal that they have to be eaten so that you have the strength to raise their offspring, and then humanely kill them. Afterwards, you pay a small respect, by saying thanks maybe, to it. That would be an ideal way of living with nature.


That was how it was before the population skyrocketed and the demands became high. People who didn't have farms, would go hunting for dinner, but still, at least the animal had a life and were only killed on a as-needed basis. It's sad how it is done nowdays. I lived on a farm every summer when little and love animals, alive.

Answer 2

Why is your body designed to eat meat ?? Its a commonly used expression but the evidence is not overwhelming at all.

And I cannot accept that this "its natural and how we are designed" reasons ( excuse ) can be used alongside an industry that is so unnatural.

If you are using the arguement that "its natural" then you also have to back up that caging animals en-mass and feeding them artificial; foods all thier life is "natural". The 2 don't go together,

If you want to go and catch a rabbit in the forest, sit on the floor, skin it with yor bare hands and eat it raw, then i'll accept the "you're designed for it" arguement.

I have no problem with people eating meat, but very few of them are willing to take responsibility for the cruelty they sponsor.

And i also don't believe that you can think "the way animals are treated now-a-days is immoral" and continue to eat meat. Your identified something immoral and continue to support it ??? I don't get it, that makes you immoral, doesn't it ??

My body has done fine without meat for 27 years, i'm fit, healthy, never ill, own 3 businesses ( including an arable farm which requires physical work ) , always active.

There is no need to put animals through what we do, its simple. I will not be part of that, no animal needs to die for me to eat.

And finally, just because we are "designed" for something doesn't make it right. I was designed to father a child at 11 years old ?? It that OK ? Of course not.

Answer 3

Humans are the only animals that cook their food. I think you would find that humans are poorly designed for eating raw meat the way that other animals do.

I don't eat animals because I don't like the idea of killing and it's not necessary to get good nutrition. If there was no such thing as factory farming, I would still feel the same way.

Answer 4

I am a vegetarian mostly for health reasons (angina) , but I guess morals reasons too. Yes animals aren't treated righteously in the meat industry but lots of people are working hard to try and fix that. Even so, if I had my own farm, treated the animals well, fed them well, ect. I still couldn't kill an animal. Obviously if I am being attacked by an animal and it's my life (even then still not sure if I have the guts, have to be in that situation to see) then I might kill.
And it's not because I love animals that I couldn't kill them, more like I can't stand blood, guts, cutting open skin/fur, ect. Then thinking about what I am eating, but I think this is just me :( I avoid the meat section because looking at raw beef to me is like looking at a dead body, it really really bothers me. I can't put that in my mouth.

Answer 5

Ok first of all that teeth comment is totally wrong.
Our teeth are neither specialized for meat eating or plant eating, look at herbavore's teeth and you can see that there are huge differences in dental structure. But at the same time our teeth are totally different from carnivore's. We have our own special set of teeth, so that isn't even a good arguement.

It's also obvious that meat does a TON of bad things to our bodies! The way people overeat meat is killing them! Heart disease and such, people don't get that from eating too many veggies. And please, tell me what organs are specially designed to break down meat?

Our bodies aren't DESIGNED to eat meat, our bodies are DESIGNED to take nutrients from HEALTHY diets and to use them for functioning. We don't NEED meat because pretty much all (red) meat gives us is protein, and we can get more than enough protein from vegetables and milk. I think it's more that we've become so obsessed with meat that our bodies have evolved to be able to handle it.

My reason for being a vegetarian is mostly for health reasons, but I also do it for the moral reasons. It is immoral what they do to animals, and do you have any idea how unhealthy todays meat is? Animal's digestive tracts aren't ripped out all the way before their ground up into the patties we eat, which is why so many people these days get E. Coli and such. Animals are fed genetically modified feed! Most people don't realize this, but we get about 10% of the nutrients from the food the animal eats, and we're getting NOTHING but meat from these animals. They're being fed other cows and animal blood and other plants that give us ZERO health benefits, so what the hell is the point in eating meat? It might have been good for us years ago, but it's not anymore.

Answer 6

Our bodies aren't designed to eat meat otherwise, we'd be able to eat it raw like a carnivore. Our bodies don't have the proper enzymes to digest meat the way it was intended to be eaten, raw. Raw meat can make humans very sick, this is why most restaurants won't cook steaks or meats below medium rare.

Plant eating animals have pointy canine teeth as well, simply for ripping through leaves or tougher vegetables.

As for my personal disposition on why I'm vegan, it's for my health, the animals and the planet in-general.

Answer 7

All your thoughts are legitimate. I personally like meat and eat it with much enjoyment.
However, I would thing that more vegetables and fruit would be the better way to go. Everything (in moderation) is the key.
Morally, vegans kill as many animals as meat eaters. To plant the land, you have to take away their natural habitat and they all use chemicals. I don't think that's too good for the animal population either.
Eat what you like, just cut it down some and be patient.

Answer 8

No plant, animal or other living being is 'designed' for anything. This is a common fallacy that has its roots in Judeo-Christian belief. (Read my latest question if you want to see my argument). Humans evolved to be able to digest *both* plants or animals. It doesn't mean we HAVE to eat animals. A lion needs meat NOT because it was 'designed' to be a carnivore. It EVOLVED to be a carnivore.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by special organs for meat digestion. A cow can digest meat without falling ill immediately (but the long term effects are subtle). Special enzymes are needed for plant digestion - and we have them.

Answer 9

Our teeth are more like a gorillas teeth than a tigers.

Gorillas eat tonnes of plant based matter, tigers are purely carnivores.

Carnivores cannot move thier teeth from side to side, thier teeth go up and down. Its for biting, not grinding.

Animals like gorillas and humans have a jaw that allows our teeth to move sideways which allows us to grind up food.

The other thing is that our digestive system is much different to a carnivores, our digestive system is far close to herbivores than it is to carnivores.

We dont actually have any special organs to process meat AND we have to burn it first to be able to handle it : )

What happens when we eat meat is it rots in our system as we try to digest it, it slows down our digestive system and it actually rots our system from the inside out.

All the acid and saturated fat stops our digestive system from recycling nutrients and from actually producing some nutrients independently.

We have no dietary requirement for saturated fat, which meat and dairy is loaded with.

Yet we have huge dietary requirements for essential fatty acids, which seeds and nuts and fruits are loaded with.

All i know is that i will never go back to eating meat because of how great i feel now that i dont eat it.

Answer 10

Our bodies are not designed to eat meat. If it were, it would taste better raw, we'd have pointy teeth like all carnivorous animals and wouldn't be able to survive on a vegetarian diet.
We have grinding teeth like herbivores. And often have indigestions when it comes to eating meat and dairy products!!!
I suggest you do more research on the subject. Vegetarianism is a life changing choice.