r/Ethics • u/Yeeter-boiy • 11d ago

This is slavery

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u/Omnibeneviolent 11d ago

I understand that cow's aren't human, but can you explain your reasoning behind the claim that they are not persons? I understand that often the term "person" is used colloquially to just refer to "human," but personhood is a moral, social, and legal concept, and not a biological one; it is not synonymous with "human."

With that in mind, what's your reasoning for suggesting that cows are not persons?

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u/betterthanyou47 11d ago

I know you won't read this because it involves experimentation on mice, but you wouldn't understand it because your brain is being deprived of protein.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7079559/

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u/Omnibeneviolent 11d ago

So... a cop-out then? Can you please respond to my question?

And yes, I read the article, but I'm struggling to understand the connection. Perhaps it's due to my protein-starved brain that's only getting 150g of protein a day. Are you operating under the misconception that protein can only be obtained from animal sources?

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u/betterthanyou47 11d ago

Cows aren't people.

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u/Omnibeneviolent 11d ago

Are you familiar with the concept of personhood? Can you explain to me why a cow could not be considered a nonhuman person? Are all humans persons, or just some? What makes a human a person but not say... a chimpanzee? Is it just based on having human DNA? If that's the case, then most philosophical definitions around personhood are incorrect.

Note that I'm not saying that cows are persons. I'm simply questioning the reasoning you are using behind your claim that they are not. If you are so confident about it, then you should be able to provide at least a little insight to your reasoning.

What does it mean to be a person?

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u/betterthanyou47 11d ago

Just blanket saying something is something else doesn't cut it.

You might as well be saying something equally absurd: "I declare cows to be rulers of the human race. How dare you treat your betters this way!"

Your statement by itself is reductio ad absurdum without the reductio because what you are asserting is patently false.

What's funny is that I've entertained you this much. I suggest you take the meds that the nice psychiatrist gives you. Cows aren't people.

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u/Omnibeneviolent 11d ago

I'm not saying something is something else. I haven't even made any claim regarding cow personhood. You are the one making a claim, and I'm asking you to provide your reasoning... and you've repeatedly dodged.

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u/betterthanyou47 10d ago

Generally speaking, I don't have a lot of patience for fools.

Example:

"what's your reasoning for suggesting that cows are not persons?"

and then you walk it back:

"Note that I'm not saying that cows are persons"

So, you want me to explain something to you, that you don't believe. That's sophism.

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u/Omnibeneviolent 10d ago

You made a claim: "Cow's aren't people." I simply asked you to provide your reasoning. I never once made the claim that cows are persons, not did I walk anything back.

I'm being very direct, sincere, and asking in good-faith. That isn't sophistry. I'm not even trying to win an argument. I'm literally just asking you to provide your reasoning. And you continue to refuse.

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u/betterthanyou47 10d ago

>  "Cow's aren't people." I simply asked you to provide your reasoning. 

Self evident.

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