Hello everyone! Today I would like to present a thought experiment. Inspired by Douglas Adams The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, this may show where your morals lay. I will recreate it for the benfit of thise who havent read the book.
The year is in the future and Doug, Noel, and Adam walk into a steakhouse. Doug was the only one who has been here before, and Adam a vegetarian was way out of his element. "I guess ill just get a salad" he said smelling the meat and remembering how good it tastes. "You know me, I cant bring myself to eat meat anymore."
"Oh I wouldnt be so sure" Doug replied smiling, "this place is a bit different. Its super humane".
"Have you asked the animals?" Adam replied. Doug didnt say anything but his smile widened. They all sat down at the table and a waiter came up".
"Can I take your drink orders? And would you like to see the menu or meet the meat?" The waiter asked.
"Meet the meat" All three replied, though Adam and Noel were with questioning tones while Douglas was ordering. "Certainly" replied the waiter and off he went.
What came back doumbfounded Adam and Noel. It was a living cow that actually spoke to them, "Hello everyone! I am todays specialty. Can I interest you in some ribs? My rump also looks delicious."
(Source: pixabay)
"You talk!?" Said Noel
"Y...your ribs?" Adam added.
"Of course my ribs" the cow stated. "Im not at liberty to offer anyone elses. It is my lifes ambition to one day wind up on the dinner plate."
"Is this cow actually serving himself to us?" Noel whispered to Doug. "This is wrong, I cant eat a creature this intelligent.
'How is it wrong!?" Doug asked "you eat animals that probably dont want to be eaten all the time. Now we have one right here telling you it wants to be eaten."
"I agree with Noel" Adam spoke up "this is a living creature. I cant just eat it.
The cow was visibly saddened by the direction of the conversation. "Well it would be unfortunate if I couldnt interest you in any meat. We dont carry vegetables since people made a fuss over the same reasons and inability to speak up. Thats why scientistd genetically enginered an animal that could come right out and say they wanted to be eaten."
Noel and Adam sat there dumbstruck, unable to form an argument about why this was wrong. "Enough chat!" Noel ordered "Bring us 3 prime ribs"
The cow now obviously happy replied "an excellent choice sir, now please wait while I go and shoot myself. It will be very humane I assure you" he added with a side glance and smirk to Adam and Noel. When the human waiter returned with the food both Adam and Noel felt something was wrong, though they still couldnt figure out why.
Do you know what caused Adam and Noels moral unease?