Animals do not have souls
According to many belief systems, humans are the only animals which have souls. Some believe that animals were put on earth by a creator to serve human beings, and therefore eating animal products is ethical.
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The Argument
In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, animals are described as subservient to humans. Their purpose is to provide for human beings. Genesis 1:26[1] states "God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" Therefore, humans are entitled to the consumption of animal products by design.
Counter arguments
Whether or not animals have souls is highly debated in Christianity, and some believe that Adam and Eve were vegetarians as there is no mention that they ate animal flesh.[2]
Many animals have the qualities of some people's definition of a soul, such as emotions like grief, joy, embarrassment, and fear.[3]
Regardless of whether animals exist for human use, if we do not need animals, we should not harm them. They can still feel pain.[4]
Proponents
Premises
[P1] In many religions, animals are subservient to humans and designed to be used for food.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] It does not matter what the theological significance of animals are - this does not make it acceptable it eat them.
References
- https://www.bibleref.com/Genesis/1/Genesis-1-26.html#:~:text=Genesis%201%3A26%2C%20KJV%3A,that%20creepeth%20upon%20the%20earth.%22
- https://www.learnreligions.com/do-animals-have-souls-701974
- https://aeon.co/ideas/do-only-humans-have-souls-or-do-animals-have-them-too
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/12/animals-science-medical-pain/#:~:text=Scientists%20have%20developed%20%E2%80%9Cgrimace%20scales,and%20pin%20back%20their%20ears.