Quote Originally Posted by Pureghetto View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Kentarou View Post
The difference between eating a plant and an animal, to me, is that one is sentient, and one is not.
I have an excellent example to show what I mean.

In my left hand I have a gerbil. In my right hand I have a potted plant.

If I set fire to the gerbil, what will be your reaction?

What if I set fire to the plant? What if I set fire to a tree? Rip a sapling off the ground? Cover a plant in darkness?

Why is it morally neutral to mistreat plants? Cognitive Dissonance? I think so.
The difference is that I can relate to the Gerbil's pain, and not the plant's. The Gerbil expresses things I can recognize, and cringe at the thought of. The Gerbil can produce desires, dislikes, and likes, while the Plant cannot make anymore meaning for itself, because it lacks sentience.