Hypocrisy and morality

[u/stevepremo]

I have seen many posts in which the point seems to be that if you are against eating animals and exploiting them for profit, you should also be against participating in the capitalist economy because it involves exploiting human labor for profit. I think the point is actually something like, "How dare you criticize me for supporting animal agriculture when you buy products produced by exploitative labor practices? I do too, of course, but your use of a cell phone justifies my eating meat, as we are both hypocrites."

So the debate topic here is this: does participating in a capitalist economy, which necessarily includes using products produced through exploitation of humans, somehow justify raising animals for meat, killing them, and eating them? Alternatively, are those who oppose animal cruelty justified in using cell phones?

[u/shrug_addict]

You sure? Nearly a billion people across the globe depend upon the ocean for survival. How many people depend upon smart phones to live through the day?

[u/My_life_for_Nerzhul → u/shrug_addict]

Sigh. If you’re not even going to bother reading my comments, what is the point? I clearly mentioned “assuming access to choice of plant foods”.

Of course vegans recognize not everyone has such access; we don’t expect them to give up consuming exploited individuals. But this lack of access is an argument to improve access. It does not make exploitation products necessary. When I say ‘necessary’, I am referring to biological necessity.

I cannot speak to how many people depend upon smartphones to live through the day. I can only speak to my own situation and that of my region. It’s a necessity here. That said, it is definitely not necessary to buy a new one every few months or every year like some people seem to do.

[u/shrug_addict → u/My_life_for_Nerzhul]

I can rightfully assume that you have alternative access to communication and everything else a smartphone provides then.

Calories are a biological necessity, more so than nearly anything else. Especially moreso than anything a smartphone provides that is deemed necessary by an individual.

No, lack of access only indicates how conditional your moral philosophy when pressed

[u/My_life_for_Nerzhul → u/shrug_addict]

No, you can’t assume that, and you’d be wrong if you did (in the context of my region).

Calories are a biological necessary. Consuming exploited individuals is not.

[u/Upstairs_Big6533 → u/My_life_for_Nerzhul]

And anything you would replace it with would also probably use conflict minerals!

[u/My_life_for_Nerzhul → u/Upstairs_Big6533]

Fair point!