Is there ever any excuse for cannibalism?

I was wondering if people think that there is ever any situation when cannibalism is the right way to go. I mean obviously I am not advocating going out, killing and eating. But in a life or death situation would it be morally acceptible?

Reply 1

President_Ben

15

NB: critical point in this discussion in the distinction between the person and the body.

Reply 2

Cougar

I wouldn't have a problem if they were already dead and I was pretty desparate - http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/features/vanishings:_lost_in_the_andes.php but if I was at sea and had to kill someone, then I doubt I could.

Reply 3

Jog.Ra.Fee.

1

Yes, if its best for the majority then I think it would be, killing the weakest member is okay if more than one person could survive because of it.

The Donner Party is a crazy example of this though, wikipedia it or something I cant be bothered to explain but what some of them did, I dont think, was right...

Reply 4

Jonah Ramone

OP

19

I certainly agree that it is right if a whole group would be able to survive etc. But they would have to be dead already, like, died in a crash or something. Killing people is a LAST resort.

And if you did have to kill someone, they would have to be the most useless member of the group. E.G. We discussed this in an AS law lesson last year:

Mechanic, teacher, priest, lawyer, doctor. I think there may have been a sixth but I cannot remember, probably an office worker or a computer technician. Who do you kill first?

Blatantly the priest. The least useful member of the group.

Reply 5

Jog.Ra.Fee.

1

Jonah Ramone

I certainly agree that it is right if a whole group would be able to survive etc. But they would have to be dead already, like, died in a crash or something. Killing people is a LAST resort.And if you did have to kill someone, they would have to be the most useless member of the group. E.G. We discussed this in an AS law lesson last year:

Mechanic, teacher, priest, lawyer, doctor. I think there may have been a sixth but I cannot remember, probably an office worker or a computer technician. Who do you kill first?

Blatantly the priest. The least useful member of the group.

Yes, and with the Donner Party, they went a randomly picked a person to murder, literally. They picked a healthy,fit, strong man, not one of the elderly or young. The guy knew he was going to die and went crazy it was disturbing for him and everyone else. That is the severe problem with telling somone that you are going to murder and then eat them.

Reply 6

Sorani

16

If it was a situation to me where it was eat someone or starve to death then I think it would be acceptable for me to eat them for my own survival. I don't think I'd have the heart to kill someone (they'd have to be dead) but then again - if I was starving, desperate and scared for my life then I really don't know how I'd act.

Reply 7

parsleythelion

1

Jog.Ra.Fee.

That is the severe problem with telling somone that you are going to murder and then eat them.

Lol. Indeed. :smile:

Reply 8

Jog.Ra.Fee.

1

parsleythelion

Lol. Indeed. :smile:

After re-reading what I typed, it sounds stupid, there are lots of problems linked with telling somebody "Hey, where going to eat your liver with some nice fava beans" kind of thing :laugh:

Hunger?

parsleythelion

Lol. Indeed. :smile:

Jog.Ra, thanks for making me chuckle :smile:

Reply 11

Jonah Ramone

OP

19

Jog.Ra.Fee.

That is the severe problem with telling somone that you are going to murder and then eat them.

A great analogy there. :biggrin:

Reply 12

brimstone

7

I hope that I never have to be in a situation in which I have to eat another human being, but if I had to to survive, I would.

Reply 13

silverbolt

19

Jog.Ra.Fee.

That is the severe problem with telling somone that you are going to murder and then eat them.

id pee in the soup

Reply 14

RetiredAccount89

18

Cougar

I wouldn't have a problem if they were already dead and I was pretty desparate - http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/features/vanishings:_lost_in_the_andes.php but if I was at sea and had to kill someone, then I doubt I could.

have you seen the film of that story?
its really harrowing.

Reply 15

RetiredAccount89

18

Jonah Ramone

I certainly agree that it is right if a whole group would be able to survive etc. But they would have to be dead already, like, died in a crash or something. Killing people is a LAST resort.

And if you did have to kill someone, they would have to be the most useless member of the group. E.G. We discussed this in an AS law lesson last year:

Mechanic, teacher, priest, lawyer, doctor. I think there may have been a sixth but I cannot remember, probably an office worker or a computer technician. Who do you kill first?

Blatantly the priest. The least useful member of the group.

nuts to that, kill the lawyer. if you have been in a crash what the hell is the lawyer gonna do?
the teacher may be a science teacher or a mathmo or something that might be useful. the priest will cover the base in case god really does exist.
but the lawyer...

Reply 16

cottonmouth

10

Mr.Chavez

nuts to that, kill the lawyer. if you have been in a crash what the hell is the lawyer gonna do?
the teacher may be a science teacher or a mathmo or something that might be useful. the priest will cover the base in case god really does exist.
but the lawyer...

are you crazy? The priest would have to go, useless idiot who'd probably divide the survivors into warring factions before buggering whatever little boys are about. Plus, the lawyer, while maybe not good for his vocation in the situation, is likely to be an itelligent guy, with trasferrable skills. If you want to make a new start, best to keep the stronger intellects in the group, to make the race stronger when it all gets going......

and nope, i couldnt kill someone. Iwould eat if i had to though. Apparantly humans taste like pork.

Reply 17

NDGAARONDI

16

Jonah Ramone

I was wondering if people think that there is ever any situation when cannibalism is the right way to go. I mean obviously I am not advocating going out, killing and eating. But in a life or death situation would it be morally acceptible?

Yes. Only if it is the lesser of two evils. If one is to be eaten in order to save the life of others than them all dying of starvation then the former is preferred. Reminds me of Dudley and Stephens here.

Is there ever any excuse for cannibalism?

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