Comment Stem Cells and Veganism (Score 1) 265
This debate has gotten a lot of people arguing about cells; when they are 'alive' and when they are 'dead'; when are they 'human', when are they not... Frankly, a lot of the opinions provided seem ill-informed and jejune; it is entirely possible that this is merely because the proponents of those opinions have failed to provide their rationale.
Personally, I believe that life has no distinct beginning, and a nebulous-at-best end; there-fore, I tend to lean towards the most mathematically viable option. For instance, this embryo's destruction may lead to a cure for Parkinson's Disease. One embryo is less than several million sufferers of Parkinson's. Death to the embryo, as it were. Also, there is a growing embryo/foetus in a woman; she cannot go through the pregnancy with her health: back problems, possibly pre-natal fatality, etcetera. Again, death to the embryo. Suppose she's fine and healthy, but cannot financially support the child. This one's trickier. I lean towards early-term abortion, but not late term. Once the child starts to develop a nervous system, I get uncomfortable. Even then though, I value the mother's life more; if she can't reasonably go through with the pregnancy and birth, let her choose to abort or not. She can make another one at a later date, when she's healthier.
This kind of thinking also leads me to believe that vegetarianism (and especially veganism) is a silly idea. No type of organism is 'better' than another; a cow has as much right to life as a human. Of course, the opposite is also true. Additionally, humans are designed (whether by God, gods, evolution, or some combination of the above) to eat plants AND meat; there are eight essential amino acids that humans cannot produce. Humans are supposed to consume fats and cholesterol, which are difficult or impossible to find in plants. We are supposed to eat other organisms. Get over it.
It also seems to produce a dichotomy: so you won't eat meat; why will you eat plants? Why is meat 'better' than plants? How do you feel about micro-organisms?
If any-one can tell me, phlegmatically and reasonably, why they believe some-thing counter to what I do, I would be grateful. Oh, and if one of those reasons is a religious doctrine, tell me what it is, and even explain it if you so choose, but no attempts at conversion, please. My religion is my business, not yours.
Personally, I believe that life has no distinct beginning, and a nebulous-at-best end; there-fore, I tend to lean towards the most mathematically viable option. For instance, this embryo's destruction may lead to a cure for Parkinson's Disease. One embryo is less than several million sufferers of Parkinson's. Death to the embryo, as it were. Also, there is a growing embryo/foetus in a woman; she cannot go through the pregnancy with her health: back problems, possibly pre-natal fatality, etcetera. Again, death to the embryo. Suppose she's fine and healthy, but cannot financially support the child. This one's trickier. I lean towards early-term abortion, but not late term. Once the child starts to develop a nervous system, I get uncomfortable. Even then though, I value the mother's life more; if she can't reasonably go through with the pregnancy and birth, let her choose to abort or not. She can make another one at a later date, when she's healthier.
This kind of thinking also leads me to believe that vegetarianism (and especially veganism) is a silly idea. No type of organism is 'better' than another; a cow has as much right to life as a human. Of course, the opposite is also true. Additionally, humans are designed (whether by God, gods, evolution, or some combination of the above) to eat plants AND meat; there are eight essential amino acids that humans cannot produce. Humans are supposed to consume fats and cholesterol, which are difficult or impossible to find in plants. We are supposed to eat other organisms. Get over it.
It also seems to produce a dichotomy: so you won't eat meat; why will you eat plants? Why is meat 'better' than plants? How do you feel about micro-organisms?
If any-one can tell me, phlegmatically and reasonably, why they believe some-thing counter to what I do, I would be grateful. Oh, and if one of those reasons is a religious doctrine, tell me what it is, and even explain it if you so choose, but no attempts at conversion, please. My religion is my business, not yours.
