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Cannibalism

Mathitis May 31, 2019 at 18:13 7150 views 20 comments
As humans, if we are just another animal, and other animals consumer one another of the same species, is it right then for humans to eat their dead?

There are many animals that practice cannibalism such as sharks, chickens, salamanders, and so on.

Following the Bolshevik Revolution atheism was widely practiced when the old order was thrown off. About two decades later during WWII during the Siege of Leningrad, the situation had become so dire that the local population resorted to cannibalism as a result of food shortages. Despite the common religious belief, those who were caught practicing cannibalism were legally punished.

To what end are people really animals? Is it right to consume human flesh? If not why?

Comments (20)

Schzophr May 31, 2019 at 18:25 #293412
Ecosystem would deteriorate human wise.
DingoJones May 31, 2019 at 19:18 #293419
Reply to Mathitis

Depends on what “cannibalism” is meant to entail. Nothing wrong with eating human meat per say, but if you are murdering humans in order to eat them I think you are going to have to explain how the murder is morally permitted.
Grre May 31, 2019 at 21:43 #293430
Eating human meat is, well, just meat. The horror associated with cannibalism is not due to the meat itself, but the practice of 'eating' a member of our specie, presupposes that we would have to kill said member to eat them. Its pragmatic to ban something that could encourage the stronger members of the species to kill weaker members. A lot of people believe various religions banned the practice of eating pork because it tastes (and is extremely like) human meat.
Frank Apisa May 31, 2019 at 21:52 #293432
Valentine Michael Smith figured it was not only moral...but obligatory.
Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 08:31 #293502
Polynesian tribes, old Mesoamericans and old Celts all practiced ritual cannibalism.

Is it right or wrong? Neither.
Ritual cannibalism allows for the deceased to permeate through the living vessel and enhance it.
But desecrating a corpse to fill your gut is shameful to both the consumer and the consumed.
Merkwurdichliebe June 01, 2019 at 09:16 #293507
Reply to Shamshir
How do you know that meat you buy from the local butcher ain't human? :kiss:

Soylent Green M'F'ers!
Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 09:21 #293508
Reply to Merkwurdichliebe I've eaten my own meat. So either I'm human or I'm not.
Merkwurdichliebe June 01, 2019 at 09:25 #293509
Quoting Shamshir
I've eaten my own meat. So either I'm human or I'm not.


Better than eating your own shit. :grin:
Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 09:34 #293511
Reply to Merkwurdichliebe Unless you have a toothache.
Merkwurdichliebe June 01, 2019 at 09:40 #293513
Reply to Shamshir

:vomit:
:blush:
:vomit:
sime June 01, 2019 at 09:58 #293518
Turn the question around: Is it right for humans to allow other animals to commit cannibalism?

Suppose that we can synthetically mass-produce artificial meat. Then in order to minimize earthly suffering, then ideally, shouldn't we enforce ALL carnivores within the animal kingdom to eat synthetic meat only and prevent them from killing for food?

What is the justification for not extending human ethics into the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it merely a matter of pragmatism?
Merkwurdichliebe June 01, 2019 at 10:01 #293519
Quoting sime
Then in order to minimize earthly suffering, then ideally, shouldn't we enforce ALL carnivores within the animal kingdom to eat synthetic meat only and prevent them from killing for food?

What is the justification for not extending human ethics into the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it merely a matter of pragmatism?


Humans are too busy eating each other. There is no justification. :grin:
Frank Apisa June 01, 2019 at 13:16 #293558
Quoting Shamshir
Shamshir
214
?Merkwurdichliebe
I've eaten my own meat. So either I'm human or I'm not.


I've never been that flexible...although I gotta admit I have given it a try at times. My big worry was that I would break something and be found upside down in a corner unable to move.
Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 13:24 #293559
Quoting Shamshir
eaten my own meat

Quoting Frank Apisa
I've never been that flexible

It appears to me, we're eating two different kinds of meat, you and I. :sweat:
But do tell me, in relation to the thread, would you consider your efforts cannibalistic?
Frank Apisa June 01, 2019 at 13:36 #293564
No, Shamshir...not cannibalism. :wink:

A joke actually. I thought that was where you were at with you comment.

As for the actual thread question:

One man's immorality is another's necessity.

Heinlein had Valentine Michael Smith's cannibalism as a true need. The Martians did not consider cannibalism to be immoral...and in fact, considered it a necessity.

Morals are a product of convenience and agreement.

I'm gonna do a thread on what is known as "bad language" or (even more absurd) "adult language."

Making certain sounds (speaking certain words) is considered vulgar.

Why? Why on Earth would there be agreement on something like that?
Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 14:39 #293575
Quoting Frank Apisa
The Martians did not consider cannibalism to be immoral...and in fact, considered it a necessity.

What Martians?

Quoting Frank Apisa
Morals are a product of convenience and agreement.

Nay. Moral is a pre-ordained law, whereas human moral convictions are supoositions.

Quoting Frank Apisa
Making certain sounds (speaking certain words) is considered vulgar.

Why? Why on Earth would there be agreement on something like that?

Because words carry great responsibility and can be misused.
Adult words often show poor verbal hygiene and tend to be misused; which is the equivalent of eating with dirty hands, something you teach your children not to do.
Does that answer your question?
Frank Apisa June 01, 2019 at 15:11 #293585
Quoting Shamshir
Shamshir
217

The Martians did not consider cannibalism to be immoral...and in fact, considered it a necessity. — Frank Apisa

What Martians?


Heinlein's Martians. Stranger in a Strange Land.

Morals are a product of convenience and agreement. — Frank Apisa

Nay. Moral is a pre-ordained law, whereas human moral convictions are supoositions.


Nonsense. But we will talk more about this when I post the thread I'll eventually get to.



Making certain sounds (speaking certain words) is considered vulgar.

Why? Why on Earth would there be agreement on something like that? — Frank Apisa

Because words carry great responsibility and can be misused.


That I agree with completely. "Morals" is one. "Believe" and "belief" are two more. "Atheist" is one.

But "adult language!"

C'mon.


Adult words often show poor verbal hygiene...


Bullshit.

... and tend to be misused; which is the equivalent of eating with dirty hands, something you teach your children not to do.


More bullshit.


Does that answer your question?


It tell me a bit about how you feel on the topic.

I thank you for that.

When I post the thread...I hope you participate.

We will differ considerably on how we feel about the issue.

Shamshir June 01, 2019 at 15:20 #293587
Quoting Frank Apisa
Nonsense. But we will talk more about this when I post the thread I'll eventually get to.

It's just the natural order, buddy - which governs both our responses, mind you.

Quoting Frank Apisa
Bullshit.

See? Fecal matter. Poor hygiene.

Quoting Frank Apisa
More bullshit.

Yeah, more fecal matter. Are you trying to replace the word philosophy with 'the love of fucking wise shit'? Cause that's all adult language is good for in the layman's hands.
And is the driving force of the modern ape.
Frank Apisa June 01, 2019 at 16:37 #293604
Quoting Shamshir
Shamshir
222

Nonsense. But we will talk more about this when I post the thread I'll eventually get to. — Frank Apisa

It's just the natural order, buddy - which governs both our responses, mind you.

Bullshit. — Frank Apisa

See? Fecal matter. Poor hygiene.

More bullshit. — Frank Apisa

Yeah, more fecal matter. Are you trying to replace the word philosophy with 'the love of fucking wise shit'? Cause that's all adult language is good for in the layman's hands.
And is the driving force of the modern ape.


Bullfuckingshit!

Anyway...I decided to do a quicky on the thread I talked about...and have posted it.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/5949/adult-language

Stop by...if you are mature enough to deal with it.
Metaphysician Undercover June 02, 2019 at 16:12 #293845
Many believe that wanton killing is not a good thing. Killing is a serious action which needs to be only carried out for a good reason, and this needs to be respected. The good reason might be to eat the thing which has been killed. So when you feel the urge to kill your enemies you might need to justify this activity. That they are your enemies does not justify killing them, but eating them might.