Subject:
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Re: Frog
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 8 Feb 1999 19:29:04 GMT
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Reply-To:
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c576653@cclabs.missouri^stopspam^.edu
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Viewed:
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613 times
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Larry Pieniazek wrote:
>
> I consider myself superior to flies, just as I do to cows. There are
> humans, and there are animals, and there IS a difference. So I have no
> qualms about killing a fly because it's trying to bite me, or killing a
> cow because I need to eat. I just balk at doing it in a way that is not
> the kindest, gentlest way possible.
I've always wondered about this. I have some questions WRT this stance.
What does superior mean? Is it based on cognitive-emotional capacity?
Frankly, using what I guess to be the answer, I consider myself superior
to most of humanity, but I don't believe I have the right to eat
them...that would be socially inappropriate. Yet, we have the right to
eat other animals. how does that work?
I guess the real thing is this: if not based on some measure of
'intelligence,' then the line is drawn based on philogenetic
relatedness. If this is correct, why does 'the line' fall between
humans and non-humans? Why not move the line toward us and place it
between people of very similar genetics and people of more distant
genetic makeup? Why not move it away so that mammals are not
appropriate food sources, but other things are? How would this be
different, if there were a species with which we could breed but it
produced sterile offspring? What if some cetaceans are similarly
complex, are they appropriate foodstuff?
How does this co-depend with your Libertarianism? How does the typical
libertarian incorporate non-humans into the scheme of 'rights?' It
seems that like most folks, they have decided that only humans have
rights. Is that your impression?
I have attempted to express myself without indicating my own biases, and
without offending. I hope it worked.
--
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Weeks
central Missouri, USA
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Frog
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| (...) Maybe there isn't a scientifically defined line, and maybe the line that does exist is not fixed for all of humanity or perhaps it even changes over the life of a single individual. consider dogs? Some cultures consider this food. Some put (...) (26 years ago, 8-Feb-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Frog
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| "Christopher L. Weeks" wrote: < a hard question, the original one of this thread > I think this was addressed to me. I've been fascinated by the thread but don't have time to plunge in. I did want to answer the question. AFAI am concerned, and I do (...) (26 years ago, 10-Feb-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Frog
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| (...) OK, good to know. Learn something every day, these groups are great for that. Nevertheless I myself try not to do things that may appear to be cruel, even if they're not, because I don't want to remember what sorts of animals are capable of (...) (26 years ago, 3-Feb-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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