The Ethics of Eating Meat

 When I was a teenager, I became a “vegetarian” out of love for animals - pop tarts & Mac & Cheese were my staples through college, with black beans & pizza from time to time.

About seven years ago, I was teaching an ethics class and we had this exact discussion. As it turns out, I could not think of any ways to justify eating meat, so just like that, I became a vegetarian, this time one who also eats vegetables. 

The first problem we encounter is Descartes. He gave us a duality that is challenging to escape. If we (humans) are bodies and minds, that makes us better. We can justify our treatment of animals because they are just bodies. Even Kant makes this argument: “But so far as animals are concerned, we have no direct duties. Animals are not self-conscious and are there merely as a means to an end. That end is man.” He does go on, however, to say that the way we treat animals is a mirror to our treatment of humans. The way we treat those who are seemingly inferior is a direct reflection of ourselves. 

I’ve lived with animals my entire life. I’ve watched my cat take care of her kittens and I watched my cats as they carefully inspected the arrival of my daughter. I watched my daughter experience laughter for the first time when my dog did something silly - and continued to do that thing upon hearing her laughter. There is a relationship we have with animals that, though it may be unlike our relationship with humans, is sacred. I got two kittens in 1998. They lived 18 and 20 years, respectively. I knew those cats longer than I have known most of my friends. They were certainly a lot more dependable than many people I know. 

I don’t suppose most people, even arguing that eating meat is justifiable, are going to advocate for eating dogs and cats, though, right? Why don’t we eat our pets? I think it’s for the reason above: we have a relationship. I do not, however, have a relationship with the cow or chicken at the local farm. As Kant said, they are simply a means to an end. However, if we continue with his argument: how we treat them matters. There are numerous factory farms where animals are mistreated. They are just food - a means to an end. However, looking at Kant’s argument: “Our duties towards animals, then, are indirect duties towards mankind.”