The lilies in the field
How chewy and delicious.
Someone, Plutarch apparently, observed that humans are not the usual design for predators having none of the sharp claws and teeth for hunting. He noted that we then cook the (dead) meat and season it in various ways.
So should meat-eaters be allowed into philosophy heaven?
I’ll remind you of the chimpanzees which hunted down some other monkey and tore it apart for food. Chimpanzees, being similar in configuration to humans, are obviously hunters by nature, but like humans, omnivorous. (Strictly speaking, common chimpanzees are omnivorous; bonobos frugivorous; if I’m going to talk about chimpanzees, I’ll mean the common sort.) In other words, Plutarch is noting physical differences without considering behavioural ones.
As a species we both hunt and gather; we eat both meat and vegetables. It gives us options which other species lack especially when food might be scarce. I’d defy a starving human (perhaps apart from a few extreme religious nutjobs) to remain vegetarian at the expense of their life.
Bottom line. Plutarch is being a typical ancient. STFU, Plutarch. Humans are as humans do and eating meat is no less natural than eating vegetables.
So should meat-eaters be allowed into philosophy heaven?
I’ll remind you of the chimpanzees which hunted down some other monkey and tore it apart for food. Chimpanzees, being similar in configuration to humans, are obviously hunters by nature, but like humans, omnivorous. (Strictly speaking, common chimpanzees are omnivorous; bonobos frugivorous; if I’m going to talk about chimpanzees, I’ll mean the common sort.) In other words, Plutarch is noting physical differences without considering behavioural ones.
As a species we both hunt and gather; we eat both meat and vegetables. It gives us options which other species lack especially when food might be scarce. I’d defy a starving human (perhaps apart from a few extreme religious nutjobs) to remain vegetarian at the expense of their life.
Bottom line. Plutarch is being a typical ancient. STFU, Plutarch. Humans are as humans do and eating meat is no less natural than eating vegetables.
The carnivores strike back tomorrow. I’ll just go and get the menus printed.
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