Debate

You both like debate.

Stranger: hi

You: hey

Stranger: have a topic in mind?

You: I could

You: Do you?

Stranger: Not in particular

You: Do you think it’s permissible to kill humans for a burger in the same way we kill animals for a burger?

Stranger: no

You: What’s there difference between a human and animal that makes it permissible for the animal but not the human-animal?

Stranger: Humans are able to reciprocate

You: What about mentally handicapped humans?

You: Do you think it’s permissible to kill mentally handicapped humans for a burger?

Stranger: Most mentally handicapped people are able to reciprocate in the manner I described

Stranger: If they aren't, then, probably we'd just view them with too much sympathy to kill and eat.

You: ...so it is permissible to kill the other mentally handicapped humans for a burger?

Stranger: Well, how appetizing does a mentally handicapped man sound to you?

You: I'd imagine it'd be no different than a beef burger.

Stranger: Seems like one is inherently kind of off-putting, since it's made of human

You: So you believe it's permissible to kill the other mentally handicapped humans for a burger?

You: I'm sure you wouldn't know the difference.

Stranger: I think people who are violent and unable to reciprocate, and handicapped to an extent where they are a danger to themselves and others are already denied the rights to a free life other people have. We don't turn them into burgers because of aesthetic issues.

You: Are cows and such violent?

You: Do you see the contradiction here?

Stranger: Cows cannot demonstrate moral reciprocity, and in certain situations would act violently towards you

You: So you believe it's permissible to kill the other mentally handicapped humans for a burger?

Stranger: Under the circumstances I described

You: Do you see the contradiction?

You: Cows are not violent?

You: or are they?

Stranger: For instance, say you kill a handicapped man in self-defense, then you could turn his body into a burger if were looking for a snack.

You: Do we kill cows in self-defense?

Stranger: Frequently, not

You: Do you see how your addition is irrelevant?

You: So you believe it's permissible to kill the other mentally handicapped humans for a burger?

You: Just bite the bullet

Stranger: It's demonstrating how he isn't living up to the social contract

Stranger: or demonstrating reciprocity

Stranger: by actively infringing on my rights

You: Ok, so you would effectively eat mentally handicapped humans for a burger.

You: Gotcha.

Stranger: No, certainly not, that's gross

You: Yet you think it's permissible.

Stranger: I think there are certain situations where it certainly would be

You: Do you honestly think human flesh tastes THAT much different from cow muscle?

Stranger: It's not about the taste

You: What's not about the taste?

Stranger: Morality

You: That's what it seems to come down to.

You: Why don't you think the choice comes down to taste?

You: Soy/almond vs diary milk

Stranger: Because it has to do with reciprocity and one's ability to act morally

You: You've already bitten the bullet on that

You: According to you, it's permissible to kill mentally handicapped humans.

Stranger: There are certain situations where it's permissible to kill fully functioning humans

You: Sure there are

Stranger: for instance, in self-defense

You: Again, we've already covered this

You: A cow isn't attacking you.

You: Keep injecting these red herrings

Stranger: We're talking about people, and in this situation a person is attacking me

You: The matter is about killing a cow

You: Not about killing a satanic cow out to get you

Stranger: What is common in these two situations? The other person or animal is not able to, or is not, showing reciprocity.

You: Some mentally handicapped folks cannot reciprocate

You: According to you, it's permissible to kill THOSE mentally handicapped humans.

You: and fry them up

You: dish em out

You: eat em up

Stranger: Sure, if they aren't reciprocating

You: Ya. Could be you someday. Alzheimer's.

Stranger: If you are a vegetable, might as well get fried up

You: According to you.

You: That's not my moral framework.

Stranger: I'd say that people with Alzheimer's are still capable of moral reasoning and reciprocity

Stranger: Unless they are just braindead

Stranger: and then yeah, we typically kill those people in the least painful way possible or let them die