• Asetru@feddit.org
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    4 days ago

    I’d argue that ethics should be applied to all living things.

    So what do you eat then?

    • ByteJunk@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Applying ethics isn’t saying that it’s unethical.

      I’m making this distinction because the post he’s replying to said they “only applied ethics to their equals or betters”, which is appalling: it’s not even concluding that something bad is ethical, it was just outright denying that ethics even applied to “lesser beings”.

      Regarding your point, I think it’s widely consensual that killing for sustenance, if no other choices exist, is ethical - even vegans agree with this, and by nature, they don’t tend to agree with much (haha joke, calm down vegans!).

      Where it gets more debatable is killing animals, who are very much capable of suffering and do possess a measure of self awareness and intelligence, when alternatives exist.

      • mitram@sopuli.xyz
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        4 days ago

        Since “veganism” is the rejection of exploitation of animals by Man, I’m not sure most vegans would say it’s ethical even when there’s no other option, but they probably wouldn’t judge either way.

        • ByteJunk@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          It is the rejection of exploitation of animals as far as is possible and practicable, as per the vegan society’s definition.

          I’m sure individual opinions can differ and that others might hold more restrictive views, but like you said, in extreme circumstances people would probably not judge, we’re in agreement 🤝

    • De_Narm@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I’m vegan. Even if you argue that plants can suffer - it’s the least amount of suffering I can cause without starving myself.

      Also “applying ethics” does not mean it’s automatically unethical - just that I think about it beforehand instead of categorically thinking “it’s okay because I’m something better”.