4 ms·
Good question. Maybe not, maybe actually yes. Using animals for transplants gives place for all kind of discussions. But this pig only existed as it was raised
by _ph_ 4y ago
Good question. Maybe not, maybe actually yes. Using animals for transplants gives place for all kind of discussions. But this pig only existed as it was raised for that purpose. Like basically all pigs, which are raised for meat production. In contrast to those, the pig in question was probably well raised in good conditions and fed quality food and no bad pharmaceuticals.
And indeed, humans use many animals, a lot of that use involves their deaths. But here it at least isn't for some random food, and a lot of meat just goes waste, but to keep a human alive. That is at least a very good reason.
- Fargoan 4y agoWhat if there were humans who only existed because they were bred and raised for organ transplant? It wouldn't surprise me if this already exists.
- Aeolun 4y agoFor the humans. I very much doubt the pig sees it that way (or would see it that way, if they were human). Don’t misunderstand me, I love meat, and while I think that killing pigs (at least someone else killing pigs) is acceptable for that purpose, I would have a harder time justifying killing a whole pig to keep someone alive a little longer. For the same reasons we don’t just raise humans as cattle to use as organ transplant sources. We tell ourselves that it is acceptable with pigs, and while this certainly makes it easier on the humans (and they grow faster), I’m not sure it’s fundamentally different.
- ceejayoz 4y agoIsn't killing a pig for meat technically "killing a whole pig to keep someone alive a little longer" too? I'm a little baffled by your ethical calculus here. Raising pigs for muscle to eat seems substantially less ethical than raising pigs for organs to transplant; you can eat plant-based alternatives, but good luck pumping blood with a soybean.
- edmcnulty101 4y agoI don't understand how killing pigs for meat to eat to survive is different than killing pigs for a heart to implant to survive.
- flatiron 4y agoIt’s very easy to sympathize with the pig. But, if a doctor came into the room and said “a pig or your daughter” what would anyone say?