Thread: Inter-Species Morality

Inter-Species ETHICS

I know, I often start strange threads for no reason, but I think about strange things and have no on else to talk to.

Soooooooooooooo, what do you think about inter-species morality?!? Obviously, the major manifestation of any kind of conscience in this area is vegetarianism. I'm not a vegetarian myself, though I think I should be and I just choose not to because I'm slightly evil and prefer the convenience (and taste!) of meat.

The reason I ask is a little more off-the-wall than the usual arguments. I know we treat animals badly. I know it's a naturalistic fallacy to say that we evolved to eat meats and should continue to do so. What I'm interested in is aliens!

As far as we are concerned, there is nothing immoral about killing (murdering?) a chicken, for example, and eating it. This is likely because of the extreme difference in sentience. So what if an alien species with a consciousness and intelligence far above ours saw us in the same way we see chickens? Then is it morally right for them to harvest us if they want to?

Forgive me:
But wouldn't such a question presuppose some outside arbiter of morality? If we are all here as the result of the culmination of biochemical reactions shaped by evolutionary pathways, then crying that something is unfair is nothing more than whining that we happened to be on the short end of the stick this time. Whether or not it is immoral makes no difference if there is no judge to appeal to. If this hypothetical alien species has so happened to develop with the ability to digest morsels shaped like humans, then who is there to cry to that we don't like it?

Survival of the fittest isn't a moral principle. Inter-species morality can't exist.

Originally Posted by Polednice

The reason I ask is a little more off-the-wall than the usual arguments. I know we treat animals badly. I know it's a naturalistic fallacy to say that we evolved to eat meats and should continue to do so. What I'm interested in is aliens!

As far as we are concerned, there is nothing immoral about killing (murdering?) a chicken, for example, and eating it. This is likely because of the extreme difference in sentience. So what if an alien species with a consciousness and intelligence far above ours saw us in the same way we see chickens? Then is it morally right for them to harvest us if they want to?

This subject has been examined in several science fiction stories. If I wasn't so forgetful I could refer you to a couple of them. In the course of a story the matter can be covered in depth.

Sorry, I didn't realise this would start a pointless debate on moral relativism. I subscribe to a kind of humanism where we are the arbiter of our own morals, and those are morals that aren't hollow but which also aren't fundamental truths. If we can't get passed that, then I suppose the thread is already deceased.

Originally Posted by Rasa

Survival of the fittest isn't a moral principle. Inter-species morality can't exist.

Inter-species ethics can and do exist, and maybe that is what Poley is hoping to work out, morality being a non-starter.

OK, replace "morals" with "ethics" and let's start again.

I agree with a few of the above posters; there is nothing wrong with eating meat. Hunting and scavenging is something weve evolved to do and meat is an important part of the diet our digestive systems are built for.

But, if we look at so called 'indigenous people', for example the Bushmen, who arguably live closer to the natural state - they have the utmost respect for their prey. They kill only when they need to, in fact the traps they use are designed not to kill so that they still have the option to free the animal later on. They even make blessings to the animals soul. Now, im not saying we need to pray for the soul of every animal we kill, but still it seems a little better than crowding small cages with animals and feeding them chemicals.

Originally Posted by emiellucifuge

I agree with a few of the above posters; there is nothing wrong with eating meat. Hunting and scavenging is something weve evolved to do and meat is an important part of the diet our digestive systems are built for.

But, if we look at so called 'indigenous people', for example the Bushmen, who arguably live closer to the natural state - they have the utmost respect for their prey. They kill only when they need to, in fact the traps they use are designed not to kill so that they still have the option to free the animal later on. They even make blessings to the animals soul. Now, im not saying we need to pray for the soul of every animal we kill, but still it seems a little better than crowding small cages with animals and feeding them chemicals.

I'm imagining aliens with free range human farms.

I dont know if free-range farming is possible with predator species...

But what makes human flesh taste best? Will the aliens prefer corn-fed humans, or omnivorous? Or could we also imagine some form of Kobe Human? Humans given a strict diet of saki, or beer, before their slaughter? Will outbreaks of prion disease cause the aliens to have to cull us? Mad human disease? And will they be susceptible to pandemic human flu?

Fine, my question is stupid. Let's just go back to slaughtering animals because we are the supreme beings of the universe.

I suppose that one major difference will also be that, with the centuries of humans consuming poultry, if not longer, chickens have not really developed a significant defense against us. We at least would be able to unleash conventional and nuclear weapons against alien predators. We would have a fighting chance, depending on how advanced, militarily, the aliens are.

Originally Posted by Polednice

Fine, my question is stupid. Let's just go back to slaughtering animals because we are the supreme beings of the universe.

Fine with me. Hmm, suddenly I am craving a steak.

Originally Posted by emiellucifuge

I dont know if free-range farming is possible with predator species...

Biologically, humans are omnivores - and not well armed. Pigs can be free-ranged, so humans probably could be, if the containment were adequate. As with pigs, the feed would be mostly non-meat. In one of the science fiction stories I alluded to above, the human stock was kept in a drugged state, to minimize aggressiveness and lessen awareness of their fate.