Comfortably numb
One argument against eating meat is that it causes suffering in animals. Adam Shriver argues in Neuroethics that if we genetically engineer animals that don’t suffer, then we can eat meat without feeling guilty.
(1) We should prevent unnecessary suffering when possible.
(2) Intensive factory farming is responsible for a
considerable amount of unnecessary suffering.
(3) Replacing the current animals used in factory
farming with genetically engineered animals
who lack the affective dimension of pain would
decrease the amount of suffering caused by
factory farms.
(4) Not enough people are willing to become
vegetarian to completely eliminate the suffering
caused by intensive factory farming.
(5) People would be willing to eat genetically
engineered food if it meant they were no longer
responsible for suffering and if it did not impose
too much of a burden on their lives.
(6) Animals can be genetically engineered and used
in food production in a way that does not impose
much of a burden on people’s lives.
(7) Given (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6), replacing current
livestock with genetically engineered animals
who lack the affective dimension of pain would
prevent unnecessary suffering.
Conclusion From (1), and (7), we ought to replace
current livestock with genetically engineered animals
who lack the affective dimension of pain.
On the other hand, suppose we figure out the genetic basis of guilt in humans. Should we reason that guilt is a form of suffering, and therefore genetically engineer humans that feel less guilty? Or should we reason that guilt inhibits unethical behavior, and therefore genetically engineer humans that feel more guilty?