To Meat, or Not to Meat

In Chapter 17 of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma he explores “The Ethics of Eating Animals,” as the section is named. He explains both the arguments for carnivores and vegetarians alike and brings up more than a few thought-provoking questions. Pollan opens by claiming that more people would not eat meat if they saw what happens in the slaughter houses. I can only imagine how witnessing the deaths of many animals might put you off meat for a while. However, we have become so desensitized by buying processed food from the supermarket that seeing where the meat actually comes from is a shock. I am torn between the part of me that calls for humanity in a seemingly chaotic slaughter and the logic that tells me that not admitting the origins of the meat is naïve.

Pollan goes on to the next argument for eating meat for those who cannot stand the cruelty involved and sympathize with the animal: scientists are genetically engineering animals without the suffering gene. This is fascinating to me not only because of the advancements in technology, but also because the basis for vegetarianism is that the animals suffer for our pleasure. But if they do not suffer is it acceptable to eat them? Or does it even matter since if not for humans preying on them they would be subject to other predators? He goes further along the thought process of the Animal Rightists’ by asking if we should do anything about animals eating other animals. Now this has gone too far. I believe that it is our choice as humans not to eat meat, but where is it our right to decide for other animals?

In concluding he poses one last question: why is the hunter frowned upon and not one who buys meat at the store when the animal raised on a CAFO probably suffered more than one who lived in the wild? Wow Michael Pollan, thanks for messing with my thought process. Before reading this I was totally against hunting for its barbaric nature- how hypocritical. In the end, I do not think it matters one way or another if you eat meat, but it should matter that the animal you eat did not live a miserable life.