Q&A: Difference in Eating Animals
Difference in Eating Animals
Question
Does the Rabbi hold that killing a cow in order to eat it is moral, and why?
And in the Rabbi’s opinion, is there a moral difference between slaughtering a cow and slaughtering a dog for the purpose of eating, and why?
Answer
Killing a cow without causing suffering for the sake of use is within the bounds of the reasonable. Still, someone who refrains from it has a higher moral virtue. There is no difference between a cow and a dog.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t see a difference.
I think not, but it’s hard to be definitive here.
I don’t think there is value to the lives of animals, but there is an issue of not needlessly destroying something in the world (do not destroy wastefully), and not causing suffering.
I understand.
If there is a person who enjoys killing animals as a hobby and hanging them in his yard for decoration, is that moral?
What is the difference between that and a person who kills animals in order to eat them because it tastes good to him and gives him pleasure?
Him*
There isn’t much difference, except that taking pleasure in killing indicates a repulsive character.
Within the bounds of the reasonable—meaning there is a moral flaw in it, but small enough that it’s still okay, or that there is no moral flaw, but someone who refrains from it is acting piously?
Does the Rabbi think all animals are on the same level?
A fly, spider, mosquito, cow, horse, dog?
My intuition is that killing a dog would be more cruel, because it is more developed, closer to a human, and has more desires. Is that just a mere feeling?
And is there value to the life of an animal, and why?