Reply #97: You made the distinction [View All]

[heliarc]

between intelligent and less intelligent by the mere mention of intelligence. I'm simply saying that it seems an odd distinction to make. Yes, I eat meat so I am in favor of the slaughter of certain animals that I would hope we could consume in a responsible and efficient manner (rather than gluttonously or wastefully). That does not mean that I view the practice with any lack of gravity or concern. But my concern for efficiency and responsibility of slaughter makes no distinction of smart or dumb.

The discussion of euthenasia was merely a reference to the practice of old which made the same distintion you make: You wanted to make a distinction that killing intelligent animals is worse than killing unintelligent ones. I find that very problematic and I was being rhetorical and in no way espouse its practice. I am responding precisely out of disgust for the premise that smarter beings are more important somehow. I recently got into an argument with a friend about it. She will eat beef because cows are less intelligent, but will not eat squid or octopus... My response to that is, huh?

I don't know why the distinction. And I find it frankly rather elitist. I respect that you do not agree if that is in fact the case. Though I also realize that I may be misinterpreting the seriousness of your original statement. Perhaps you were making a sarcastic remark about our propensity towards killing intelligent beings in Iraq. That is certainly tragic as well. Thanks for the lively discussion.