We've always eaten meat
Humans evolved eating meat so we should continue to do so
This is what's known as an appeal to tradition fallacy - using the fact that we've done something for a long time as a justification to continue doing so. These arguments have no bearing on the morality of what's taking place, indeed such appeals to tradition were commonplace as a reaction to attempts to abolish slavery, gain voting rights for women, or to achieve civil rights for people of colour.
The fact that we've been doing something for a long time has zero impact on whether or not we should
continue to do so, and a simple look at past human behaviour shows a staggering number of activities considered normal or traditional at the time that any civilised person today would find truly outrageous.
The fact that we've been doing something for a long time has zero impact on whether or not we should
continue to do so, and a simple look at past human behaviour shows a staggering number of activities considered normal or traditional at the time that any civilised person today would find truly outrageous.
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We can also see the fallacy of the appeal to tradition by looking at certain cultural behaviours still taking place
in the the world today - actions most of us would never dream of supporting.
Some questions to consider:
- Why are dogs tortured to death in their millions in some parts of Asia in the belief that an adrenaline-
fuelled death improves the taste of the meat?
- Why are there countries in some parts of the world routinely mutilating the genitals of young girls in the
name of religion?
- Why do they torture and drug bulls in Spain, before taunting and brutally killing them in front of a
cheering, bloodthirsty crowd?
- Why are women in some parts of the world still considered second class citizens and not afforded the same
rights as men?
- Why do a minority of people in the UK still fight for the hunting of foxes to be re-legalised, a bloodsport
in which a terrified animal is literally torn to pieces by a pack of dogs as people on horseback look on with
pleasure?
The answer to these questions is a simple one - it's tradition. Those committing these acts always address criticism with the same excuses. 'We've always done it, it's a part of our culture' and 'this is the way it's always been'. It's likely you find at least one of the practices above to be incredibly cruel and immoral, yet would you accept 'we've always done it' as a valid reason for them to continue?
Doing the wrong thing for a long time doesn't somehow make it right, but it does have the power to make it an unquestioned part of a particular culture. It is therefore vital as we try to evolve into a genuinely moral society to look beyond our own cultural blinkers, and to consider all those who suffer needlessly through the habits and traditions passed down to us that we blindly follow as 'normal'.
in the the world today - actions most of us would never dream of supporting.
Some questions to consider:
- Why are dogs tortured to death in their millions in some parts of Asia in the belief that an adrenaline-
fuelled death improves the taste of the meat?
- Why are there countries in some parts of the world routinely mutilating the genitals of young girls in the
name of religion?
- Why do they torture and drug bulls in Spain, before taunting and brutally killing them in front of a
cheering, bloodthirsty crowd?
- Why are women in some parts of the world still considered second class citizens and not afforded the same
rights as men?
- Why do a minority of people in the UK still fight for the hunting of foxes to be re-legalised, a bloodsport
in which a terrified animal is literally torn to pieces by a pack of dogs as people on horseback look on with
pleasure?
The answer to these questions is a simple one - it's tradition. Those committing these acts always address criticism with the same excuses. 'We've always done it, it's a part of our culture' and 'this is the way it's always been'. It's likely you find at least one of the practices above to be incredibly cruel and immoral, yet would you accept 'we've always done it' as a valid reason for them to continue?
Doing the wrong thing for a long time doesn't somehow make it right, but it does have the power to make it an unquestioned part of a particular culture. It is therefore vital as we try to evolve into a genuinely moral society to look beyond our own cultural blinkers, and to consider all those who suffer needlessly through the habits and traditions passed down to us that we blindly follow as 'normal'.
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For the argument that we've always eaten meat from an evolutionary point of view, there is indeed a common theory that meat consumption was one of the main drivers. This is by no means set in stone however, and there are other equally valid theories - the fact that we began cooking our food being one of the more prominent. After all, if meat eating was linked to intelligence would the planet's most prolific carnivores not be top of the intellectual tree?
It is important to understand however that even if meat did play a role, that has absolutely no bearing on how we should behave morally today. Animals do not want to be killed and suffer terribly at our hands, and as we now have zero biological need to consume animal products to be healthy and thrive, continuing to demand and consume these products makes little logical sense when they directly contribute to the suffering of others.
We are no longer cavemen or cavewomen and our evolutionary and biological path has long since changed direction. Human brains are now rapidly shrinking rather than growing (strange when you consider we're eating more meat than ever) and our needs and circumstances have changed dramatically. Perhaps now would be a good time to move forward together in applying our logic and compassion consistently - behaving like the moral and intellectual superiors those who make the 'big brains' argument consider us to be.
It's also important to remember that our ancient ancestors had incredibly short lifespans compared to human beings today. As a result they were able to gain some nutritional benefits of eating meat without suffering the many consequences of ill health that affect the body later. Our ancestors simply didn't live long enough to be hit by the long list of 'diseases of affluence' that now plague our modern world. Of the top ten causes of death in western society most are not only dietary related but also totally avoidable - and a plant-based whole foods diet is shown to be optimal for avoiding chronic disease and increasing longevity.
It is important to understand however that even if meat did play a role, that has absolutely no bearing on how we should behave morally today. Animals do not want to be killed and suffer terribly at our hands, and as we now have zero biological need to consume animal products to be healthy and thrive, continuing to demand and consume these products makes little logical sense when they directly contribute to the suffering of others.
We are no longer cavemen or cavewomen and our evolutionary and biological path has long since changed direction. Human brains are now rapidly shrinking rather than growing (strange when you consider we're eating more meat than ever) and our needs and circumstances have changed dramatically. Perhaps now would be a good time to move forward together in applying our logic and compassion consistently - behaving like the moral and intellectual superiors those who make the 'big brains' argument consider us to be.
It's also important to remember that our ancient ancestors had incredibly short lifespans compared to human beings today. As a result they were able to gain some nutritional benefits of eating meat without suffering the many consequences of ill health that affect the body later. Our ancestors simply didn't live long enough to be hit by the long list of 'diseases of affluence' that now plague our modern world. Of the top ten causes of death in western society most are not only dietary related but also totally avoidable - and a plant-based whole foods diet is shown to be optimal for avoiding chronic disease and increasing longevity.
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There's nothing wrong with acknowledging the role meat may have played in shaping us into the successful species we are today. But perhaps it's time to start evolving past behaviours that are now proving detrimental
to our health and literally destroying the planet that supports us, not to mention the unavoidable cruelty and large-scale violence eating animal products will always cause.
to our health and literally destroying the planet that supports us, not to mention the unavoidable cruelty and large-scale violence eating animal products will always cause.
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- Further information -
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- Smithsonian.com: Human beings evolved to eat cooked food
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causes of death. |
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"Especially when it comes to animals used for food, humanity’s
reasoning power and concern about fairness plummets."
Karen Davis
reasoning power and concern about fairness plummets."
Karen Davis
