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But a problem with the continuing the species problem is that there have been many documented cases of behavior against this.

Lions are known to kill young cubs that are not their own. Granted - they continue on by reproducing themselves, but it still stands as evidence against the argument. And, as I said before - the practice of cannibalism is more common in nature than was originally believed.

For all intents and purposes, it's entirely plausible that the only reason we don't eat each other (and our children), is because we have other food readily available. Desperate situations have forced that situation in the past.

Ok, I was wrong. I guess I need to catch up on the subject.

Demitri wrote:But a problem with the continuing the species problem is that there have been many documented cases of behavior against this.

Lions are known to kill young cubs that are not their own. Granted - they continue on by reproducing themselves, but it still stands as evidence against the argument. And, as I said before - the practice of cannibalism is more common in nature than was originally believed.

For all intents and purposes, it's entirely plausible that the only reason we don't eat each other (and our children), is because we have other food readily available. Desperate situations have forced that situation in the past.

Very true and I have no counterpoint at all on that one.

Good point Demitri. I'm 90% with you there, the only thing I'll say is that often in those situations the reason the animals are eating their rivals offspring is a refined version of continuing the species but narrowed down to their own bloodline. To reduce competition in the area.

So we're agreed then? Even though it doesn't feel right to eat babies there's no real compelling reason why you shouldn't. I'll bring a nice toddler platter to the next meet up.

sauted in garlic butter...mmm yummy

not much meat on a baby, mostly fat and with small bones you can choke on if you're not careful

As far as arguing for or against eating one of your own species for human being it is more of moral issue within the society you exist in. There have been many cultures that have indulged in cannibalism and most of us would resort to the eating of dead human flesh if our lives depended on it. whether or not that would include murder too is perhaps less common.

In the end it comes down to each individuals valuation of how precious is a human life and for the vast vast majority an animal doesn't even enter in to the same catagory and it isn't anything to do with IQ but the fact that we have the capability for empathy.

Finally it is also the contradictionary nature and ignorance of most vegetarians (most not all) as to the killing of baby calves in the dairy trade which they are quite happy to ignore whilst they are chomping into a nice chunk of cheese whilst tapping their toes in a nice pair of leather shoes....and dont even get me started on fish....please note I said 'most' not all

There have been many humans throughout history that have achieved notoriety for eating other humans and a number of them lived in the 20th century.

Personally, I don't think that you can't use the examples of the animal kingdom as justification when it relates to humans as most people's conscience relates back to religion and what is considered as civilisation.

greedoniz wrote:As far as arguing for or against eating one of your own species for human being it is more of moral issue within the society you exist in.

But the Cultural Relativist's argument is: "The majority does it, therefore it is okay" - which really isn't an argument at all. So should it be something decided by cultures?

it isn't anything to do with IQ but the fact that we have the capability for empathy.

Do you mean that we have empathy and animals dont? or we dont eat humans because we have empathy for them (but not for animals)?

(again please note: I'm not on an animal rights crusade here. Its the thinking and reasoning behind why we do and dont do things that interest me here. The meat eating scenario is just a good example).

Personally, I love eatiing babies, particularly the orange and green ones

They're much more tasty than those bags of allsorts!

i thought we eventually went loony if we ate our own kind? bit like the old mad-cow disease thing...

i personally think we dont cos....erm....otherwise we'd have no one to look after us in our dotag...y'know, commit us to the mental-houses and then steal our pensions and pinch us in the showers...

cant wait!

it might also be that we dont actually taste that nice...

I saw an explaination for this on TV a while back.

If you notice, carnivores very rarely eat other carnivores. The reason is that eating another meat eater increases the risk of passing parasites and diseases along the food chain.

Seems to makes sense to me

Again though...just because its not right health wise, doesn't make an argument why it is morally wrong. What if eating humans was extremely healthy. Would it be ok then?

Anyway, I heard we taste like chiken. Though I think chikens taste like humans.

morals are only defined by oneself surely? it's more of a taboo surely?

perhaps its an inbuilt reaction? just as babies are born with eyes full size, and the rest grows around it....big eyes equal vunerability to our subconcious on many levels...

there's been cases of a couple of japanese fellas eating women...its the murders that were (mainly) the cause for concern, rather than the actual eating of us longpigs...

i thought we tasted of pork rather than chicken?

and perhaps, out of necessity the majority of us would eat another...perhaps its just that we have other cognative choices?

i'd happily eat kirsty gallacher...yum...

why is it wrong to sleep with your brother or sister?

It's just one of those cultural things that's imprinted on our minds.

Why is it ok for Birds Eye or Prince's to advertise fish by showing a load of fish getting pulled onto a boat in a net but there would be out cry if Bernard Mathews showed a turkey getting it's neck rung in an advert.

Lady of Mystery wrote:why is it wrong to sleep with your brother or sister?

well...genetic mutations aside - you'd have to make your own cards...

"..to a wonderful sister/girlfriend..."

that's toooo much effort...