Should Humans Eat Meat?
Perhaps no question about diet and health has become more fraught than: Should we eat meat? Prosecution and defense were both greatly agitated by the recent WHO declaration, WHO is the World Health Organization, and they said that processed meats are a carcinogen, and red meat in general. But no one consideration such as that, however provocative, can answer the general question. If meat “caused” cancer, but produces some good, such as enhancing brain or muscle development: well, then, should we, or shouldn’t we eat it? What Do We Mean by 'Should'? Our discussions about diet and health go off the tracks and down the tunnels into dark oblivion almost immediately when the word “should” is involved. That word takes on moral overtones, and evokes an image of me—or someone—wagging a finger, admonishing you. I protest that construct, right along with the libertarians among you. Health is not a moral imperative. (Let’s leave out of this discussion the economics of p