Companion or Food? What is food? While some people believe that anything that is not human and can be consumed safely for humans in order to help their survival can be considered food, others have different opinions. Perhaps the best example for such controversy lies right in people 's homes. Over the course of the decade numerous individuals have chose to speak about their opinions on the consumption of animals that are considered pets. Numerous studies have been done in order to prove and disprove the health and emotional benefits or harm of such acts, but in the end the justification of such actions still remains subjective. Although the list of pet animals is large in size, this paper aims to focus on one specific type of animal that …show more content…
Most if not all of these individuals who firmly believe in protecting dogs, do not have any opinion on other types of animals who can be considered
Wang 2 pets, that are being slaughtered for food daily. In the novel Eating Animals, author Foer states that “If by “significant mental capacities, we mean what a dog has, then good for the dog. But such a definition would also include the pig, cow, chicken, and many species of sea animals. And it would exclude severely impaired humans”. Like the author stated, the argument that dogs should not be physically consumed because they are animals of which have the mental capacities to feel pain, among other emotions. This however is a flawed argument because the mental capacities of a dog is extremely on par with other animals of which most of these individuals have no problem consuming what so ever. Animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens are all capable of feeling these types of emotions. Thousands of individuals world wide have all of these animals as pets. Pet chickens, pet pigs, pet cows, and pet dogs share a common ground when it comes to what and how much they feel emotionally given specific circumstances. When pigs are about to be slaughtered in a slaughter house, these pigs can often sense the tension and thus cry uncontrollably prior to
According to Scruton, “Eating animals has become a test case for moral theory in Western societies,” and he believes that a moral life is set on three pillars: virtue, duty, value piety. Foer uses fishes and dogs, for example, in Eating Animals: people slam gaffs into fish, but no one in their right mind would do such a thing to a dog. Foer also mentions that fish are out there in the water doing what fish do, and dogs are with us. Dogs are our companions, and with that, we care about the things that are near and dear to us. In, “Consider the Lobster,” Wallace asks, “Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure?” Is it a personal choice to do so? PETA, of course, says no. Dick from the Maine Lobster Festival (MLF) argues that lobsters do not have the part of the brain that receives pain, which is a false statement anyhow. Goodrich (1969) says that a human’s life is worth so much more than an animal’s life. No matter how many animals there are, one human life is worth more.
Jonathan Safran Foer uses irony in his excerpt to prove that no animal should be eaten, and that some animals are more equal than others. He talks about eating dogs with a lighter tone and less harsh words, and he jokes about how dogs are “good for you” and “tasty”. When he jokes around like this, it is obvious that this excerpt is satire. Jonathan Safran Foer finds eating animals morally wrong and is vegetarian. The reader now knows that this
In his article, “Let Them Eat Dog”, Jonathan Safran Foer analyzes the American taboo of eating dog. In doing so, Foer explores the implication of an important question surrounding animal rights – what differentiates a food source from its fellow creatures? Initially, Foer illustrates the differing views of dog consumption around the world, and subsequently questions the logic behind the American conscience. Dog and other companion animals, Foer reasons, are only exempt from consumption based on loose claims of intelligence and affection. He is quick to indicate that livestock, such as pigs, possess an equal level of intellect and provide similar displays of affection. Consequently, Foer proves the differences between food sources and other
In this book I have discovered many interesting facts that are in the book and how they are demonstrated in the classroom, and the lab. The book as though at times can be very dry to read, but is also in many ways have very interesting topics that can be used in daily life. The lab portion of the class showed us many ways to cook with many local foods, and keep the ingredients fresh and nutritious.
As omnivorous beings, it seems that is both a blessing and a curse to have such a vast amount of meal choices to choose from. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan explores the majority of these options and offers a sort of guide on how to make a choice. The UC Berkeley Graduate School journalism professor takes us on an eye-opening ride with this book where we find out horrifying truths on the ingredients of the foods we eat every day and whether our choices benefit our bank accounts more than they do our health and the earth.
Karishma Turakhia is a 33 year old part time waitress and full time PIMA dental hygiene student. Ms. Turakhia was selected for this interview because of her cultural background in regards to animals. Coming from and Indian heritage, lifetime vegetarian, and non-owner of animals her views of animal cruelty are different. In her culture high importance is placed on the cow and religious beliefs which accounts for her vegetarian lifestyle. However, she has never placed importance on animals especially of those of household pets. Growing up most Indians never partake in owning the usual dog of cat, maybe a fish, but never anything with fur. Ms. Turakhia has never cared for household pets because of their hygiene issue, but in regards to animal
How well do you know about the food you eat? Why is it so hard to choose what to eat and what to buy? Modern people can barely make choices about what is good to eat and buy unless following the expert’s advises. However, there is one man, Michael Pollan, wrote “Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals”, published in 2006, and he wants to persuade general public to rethink their food choices and relation with food, and provoke their awareness of eating. Pollan builds up his credibility by approaching the question through various perspectives, and by critically analyzing the issue of eating disorder. To illustrate his claims, Pollan explains his key words of his work via his narratives. He, however, does not figure out any practicable solutions to deal with the omnivore’s dilemma.
Often, animals’ feelings and well being have been overlooked because society has instilled the idea that animals have no emotions. The Jungle describes animals as being a worker’s project that needs to be completed within a given time limit. After hogs entered Durham’s meat facility, they were chained by the ankles and abruptly tossed around the room; the only audible sound was the “high squeals and low squeals, grunts, and wails of agony”(Sinclair). The hogs anticipated in fear of what was to happen next, bred to be slaughtered for the greater good of humankind. Sinclair describes the workers carelessly
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself: what are you really eating? Recently, I’ve come to the realization of what I’m eating on a daily basis isn’t entirely healthy for me. Michael Pollan, who is the author of the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, has opened my mind. While reading the first couple of chapters of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’ve realized that I don’t know much about the food I eat daily. For example, I didn’t know that farmers not only feed corn but also antibiotics to their animals (Walsh 34). In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan makes a strange statement, “You are what what you eat eats, too” (Pollan 84). Pollan continuously emphasizes this remark through various examples and he’s right, because strangely enough the food that our food eats not only affects them but us as well.
Food dominates the lives of people. It is used as comfort and fuel. But the controversy is, what should people consume? Burkhard Bilger 's piece, Nature 's Spoils, explores the abnormal way of eating, which is the fermentation of food. It is usually a safe practice, and also produces vitamins in the making. The Omnivore 's Dilemma by Michael Pollan expresses the problem of how humans select food. In How Do We Choose What to Eat? by Susan Bowerman she points out the influences on people’s life that affects their eating habits. By using Bowerman’s article as the keystone, Nature’s Spoils and The Omnivore’s Dilemma can be compared and contrasted. Since the food that people consume daily can affect them in the future, it must be chosen carefully.
Do animals have the right to a certain quality of life? How would your views change if our cooks got treated the same way cattle and poultry do? How would you feel about them being beaten and brought to their knees just to be detained to know how to cook todays specials? You might think that the food industry has no issues and no faults behind their tasty food, but when you open up the meat curtain, there is a different kind of world out there that is cruel and inhumane. In Robert Kenner’s 2008 film, Food, Inc., He shows the conditions that cows, chickens, and pigs have to live in. The dark and closeted homes in which the animals are closely compacted together and eating, sleeping, and walking in their own manure. As a person who would consider themselves an animal rights activist, most people would agree that the food industry treats their animals like products instead of living things.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan is a comprehensive look into the present day food culture of the United States. Throughout the book the author tries to find out the true composition of the diet that is consumed by Americans on a daily basis. There is an excessive dependence by the American population on the government to know which food is good for them. This paper will critically analyze the book as well as the stance that the author has taken. Since there is a deluge of information about diets and health available today, the relevance of this well researched book in the present day world cannot be emphasized enough. Its relevance is not limited to the United States alone but to the entire human society which is moving towards homogenous food habits.
on the part of those who do not have any knowledge of the supposedly vicious breeds. A
A man should never go through an animal for its nutrients, when that animal receive all of its nutrients from plants. One man such, author Wendell Berry, wrote " The Pleasures of Eating," published in 2017, and he argues that every individual should be educated in what happens to their food before it becomes food. Many people are oblivious to what harmful things animals are put through in order to one day become our meal. Berry's intended audience is every single human being who eats meat, and even those who do not. I know this because Berry mentions the importance of individuals understanding where their meat comes from and why they should not let animals be treated this way. Berry assumes that individuals would not like to be treated that way, so why should animals be treated this way. Berry's purpose in this piece is to inform all humans of what inhumane things are done to animals in order to provide as one of our temporary fills. Berry's writing is somewhat credible and valuable because he is currently a farmer and currently a writer, he gives personal viewpoints and few examples, and he provides emotional statements about animal cruelty.
The final argument style I saw in this essay is directed towards the ethical standard behind the question. It’s interesting that with this topic, it really depends who your audience is. If this question was posed to different cultures across the world the ethical stance would be very different. There are plenty of cultures where eating what we consider domesticated animals is the norm and done with no emotional connection. Foer brings into question the ethical treatment of cows in slaughter houses. He brings into light the reports we have seen about how cruel some of the treatment is towards these animals and reminds us that as a whole we defend the practice of slaughter but we don’t defend the cruelty. So if there was a human way to extract and prepare the meat from dogs, could we then accept it, again, only approving the practice not the cruelty. He also drives from what we consider taboo. There is no law