We are not killing the planet, but we are putting ecosystems under pressure.
And evolution has given us tastes for things that are highly nutritious but were difficult to come by. Shall we deny ourselves these pleasures because they become problematic at scale? If so, what else should we ban by the same logic?
Perhaps the main problem is that there are too many of us. Or maybe we should be putting more effort into growing meat in vats.
Whatever we end up doing, I doubt it'll end in some kind of sustainable balance. Rather, we'll continue to multiply and consume as much as our technology allows and the environment can bare.
What gives meat the taste are the spices and the way we prepare it.
We now have great plant based alternatives (Impossible Food, Beyond Meat, and more coming on the market) that are getting better and better and which are less harmful to our biosphere. But even without those alternatives, there are so many great dishes that don't require meat and they are delicious and nutritious. Just have to have an open mind and explore what's out there.
RE: Shall we deny ourselves these pleasures because they become problematic at scale?
There are so many studies (some of which I posted further above). Science confirms that our current way of life is not sustainable.
So what is more important?
A) That we don't put our ecosystem under immense pressure as we are doing now
B) The pleasure you derive from eating chopped up animals
>>> Shall we deny ourselves these pleasures because they become problematic at scale? If so, what else should we ban by the same logic?
Yes.
Anything that has an environmental externality. Not necessarily ban, but definitely reduce the use, possibly by making it more expensive, or just stop subsidizing it.
And evolution has given us tastes for things that are highly nutritious but were difficult to come by. Shall we deny ourselves these pleasures because they become problematic at scale? If so, what else should we ban by the same logic?
Perhaps the main problem is that there are too many of us. Or maybe we should be putting more effort into growing meat in vats.
Whatever we end up doing, I doubt it'll end in some kind of sustainable balance. Rather, we'll continue to multiply and consume as much as our technology allows and the environment can bare.