Moral Question.

[TheMashiah]

Let me first start out by saying that I in no way condone the consumption of human flesh. But, what causes a natural human objection towards even considering partaking in a course of action like that described in Johnathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal".
Because I can't find it in any psycology books.(And please refrain from answers like "It's just gross.")

[geni]

I suspect it's curtral. Some culturs do it others don't. At the most basic level humanflesh is not a very safe food to eat in that all the desease in it will be able to colonise you.

[hammegk]

Originally posted by Scizerus
... what causes a natural human objection towards even considering partaking in a course of action like that described in Johnathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal".
What do you mean, objection? Here are some tips on how to get started.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news2.shtml



Fits right in to moral relativism in an overpopulated world. Or maybe it's relative ethics? Check w/ Uppie.

[Cain]

Let me first start out by saying that I in no way condone the consumption of human flesh. But, what causes a natural human objection towards even considering partaking in a course of action like that described in Johnathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal".
Because I can't find it in any psycology books.(And please refrain from answers like "It's just gross.")

In which case you're not really asking a moral question. You might want to see Steven Pinker's last book _The Blank Slate_. He has a section that considers the "immorality" of a brother and sister engaging in sexual intercourse, a family eating their dog after it gets hit by a car, and a woman who uses an old American flag to scrub her bathroom floor before throwing it away. Pinker's _How the Mind Works_ probably has information pertaining to your question as well. For the cultures that do practice cannibalism, you might want to see what other sources of protein they have available.

Provided humans are not killed in order to be consumed, I see nothing wrong with eating our flesh. Maybe instead of "it's just gross," people who have eaten other humans might say, "actually, it tastes quite good."

[Ziggurat]

Originally posted by Cain

Provided humans are not killed in order to be consumed, I see nothing wrong with eating our flesh. Maybe instead of "it's just gross," people who have eaten other humans might say, "actually, it tastes quite good."

There are medical reasons why it's not advisable. Consuming your own species puts you at greater risk of aquiring diseases from what you eat, since there is no species boundary for any germs present to cross. That's why, for example, it was a bad idea to feed cows with cow parts.

[Cain]

True, true. Let me clarify one part that's ambiguous. I see nothing morally wrong with eating humans, just as I see nothing morally wrong with eating roadkill.

[El Greco]

Originally posted by Ziggurat
There are medical reasons why it's not advisable. Consuming your own species puts you at greater risk of aquiring diseases from what you eat, since there is no species boundary for any germs present to cross.

One can minimize the dangers with good cooking. I'll post some recipes later. You should also avoid the intestines. If you don't want to just throw them away, give them to your dog.

[Mycroft]

Well, if you look at any code of ethic, they tend to consist of things that enhance survival and cooperation among the group, and from that point of view it's clear how considering your fellows as a food source would work against that. I haven't done a specific study on this, but I think if you look into it you will find that cultures that do this are both very rare, and have severe restrictions on when and how it can be done.

[Zero]

Originally posted by El Greco


One can minimize the dangers with good cooking. I'll post some recipes later. You should also avoid the intestines. If you don't want to just throw them away, give them to your dog. Ummm....do you really want your dog to grow familiar with the taste of human?

[Frank Newgent]

Paul Theroux wrote that some Pacific islanders love to eat Spam because it tastes so much like people.

[TheMashiah]

Thanks to all of you for the help.