In reading a student paper on animal rights/suffering today, a new thought crossed my mind. Much of the literature on this subject decries anthropcentrism and the tendency to value humans above other species, especially when attempting to reduce suffering and pain in the world. Given the fact that other animals experience pain and suffering, a number of people argue that the only morally acceptable way to eat meat is to let animals life 'natural' lives and refrain from causing suffering when they are killed (or die natural deaths).
It occured to me today, that people who hold to this position should also believe that cannibalism is ok as long as the humans eaten live natural lives and no suffering is involved in their deaths. In other words, if humans and other animals are equals because we all suffer, what grounds would there be for prohibiting cannibalism? It's a kind of reductio ad absurdum argument because I don't think animal rights advocates would accept cannibalism.
The only way out seems to be vegetarianism, but then that raises the problem of the value of plants.
What the issue really seems to point to, is the very basis of ethics itself. Ethics isn't based in reason and logic, but in basic feelings. We have a basic feeling that causes a preference for our own species. This accounts for why we typically are not repulsed by meat eaters, but are repulsed by cannibals. We also have feelings for other animals and dislike it when other animals suffer, but that fact does not trump our basic orientation towards our own species.
Opinions?

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If animals weren't meant to be eaten, why are they made of meat?

Crack me up!

I will eat the animals.....leave the canibalism for the british navy. ( as in Monty Python)

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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

wish I could claim that for my own. I read it on a bumpersticker once

The Cannibalism taboo doesn't appear to be as strong as we might think.

They held auditions for a reality show.
They were a spoof.
After an hour or so... and eliminating some of the people...
they revealed the banner heralding the upcoming TV show:

CANNIBALS!

The people looked a bit freaked out...
but when they wheeled out trays of pigskin,
that looked just like strips of human flesh,
almost everybody ate it.

The concept of dim, desperate people, who will do anything to be on TV,
is a scary one.

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dieselbenz

On the show 'The Surreal Life',
the cast was preparing dinner.
Corey Feldman was explaining to the others,
why he was an enlightened soul, compared to them,
because he didn't eat meat.

He doesn't believe that animals should suffer for our enjoyment.

Gabrielle Carteris asked him;
"What about your leather boots Corey?"

"Oh, they were a gift." he stammered.

"Ooooh", she said.
"Well here, I'm giving you this steak."


He left and went back into sulking mode.

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dieselbenz

I think it's there but is not all that difficult to overcome. If what I'm thinking is right, all the vegetarian/animal rights thinkers are in fact overcoming their own resistance to cannibalism.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
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1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm willing to bet that most other species value thier own species above humans, and that the main reason they don't eat us is that they are physically incapable, or that we take care of their hunger in other ways (feeding a pet dog for example).

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That was quite interesting to read. What I liked in particular was the part addressing the meaning of ethics which I agree to on the whole. However, as soon as we compare humans to animals (and here I refer to the biological definition of the term "animal") we must be careful. If we talk about animals in general I assume the point on cannibalism would be missing in the animal rights codex, because some animals would accept it and others would definitely not. A side note to complicate the situation: The fact that other animals experience pain and suffering is, in most cases, a false fact.

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Where do zoologists draw the line on experiencing pain and suffering? Central nervous system? But there are humans with central nervous systems that don't experience pain. To what extent does self-consciousness add to the experience of pain?

Are there animals that routinely practice cannibalism? I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I'm thinking it's possible.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

http://ladywildlife.com/animal/cannibalisminanimals.html

This short report is copyrighted so I can only link it. It explains in general terms animal cannibalism and infanticide

It's been quite a while since I took classes in general biology and zoology, nevertheless I'll try to answer some of your questions by giving examples.

It is known that elephants mourn their dead brethren. They are very social animals and in addition to physical pain they also feel emotional pain - they do suffer. I'd say a CNS (or a similar nervous system with highly developed, dedicated neurons) is essential to feel physical pain. However, insects do not feel physical pain, even though they have a complex nervous system.

Some humans don't experience (physical) pain indeed, but that is because of a rare disease I can not recall right now.

Cannibalism is very common among Araneae (spiders) where the female literally has great appetite for the male after the sexual intercourse. I admit this is the ony example that comes to my mind instantly, but one thing I know is that in the "wild" sources for food are usually limited and cannibalism is one solution to this problem. In extreme situations cannibalism could be the key to survival.

"To what extent does self-consciousness add to the experience of pain?" Now, that's philosophical In my opinion, given you have enough of it, it can worsen but also relief the pain - it depends.

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Is it canabalism if you eat a vegatarian

Most vegetarians I've encountered are too thin and sickly. You have to have fat marbleing for tender cuts. Maybe if you corn fed them for a few months you would have that delicate flavor and juicyness we all crave.

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