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Well I think first of all there is a big difference between digging up the entire plant and just picking a piece of fruit, a vegetable,or a nut off of it. The first way will kill the plant and the other way the part being taken would have fallen off anyway and probably does not really even hurt the plant at all .
I have actually thought about this issue. I do not know what to conclude other than as a vegetarian I cannot give up many of the plants I need for nutrition and protein even if it kills the plant, but if there was conclusive proof that the plant does feel pain and fear I would try to find a compromise. I would try to just take part of the plant and leave the rest alive if possible. I know many will laugh at my softhearted feelings but there it is.
I know someone who is a Jain, and that's how he explained to me why he doesn't eat potatoes or root vegetables.
Plants are not "intelligent" or "purposeful." They exist, they propagate. There is no thought, no planning, no self-awareness. Plants with defense mechanisms react to stimuli. Part of a plant can react. The entire plant can react. An ecosystem can react. Some plants are invasive. Some plants struggle to survive changing environments. But it is all reactive behavior--not cognitive choice. They are living things, but not sentient beings. I eat broccoli, but it isn't aware of being eaten. Lacking a nervous system means no nerves, no thought. The research pointing to plant "cognition" only explains that certain plants MAY be able to change growth or development patterns in response to environmental stimuli. That is a far, far, faaaaar distance from saying they "choose" or "plan" to do something. In other words, seedlings exposed to cold and dark conditions after germination may slow growth, but are merely reacting to the environment--they can't foresee extend cold snaps or sudden heat waves, nor are they conscious that they even happen.
The other day on NPR radio they were talking about the ethics behind growing, harvesting and eating bugs. It seems like grasshoppers and crickets can be a terrific food source.
There was a scientist on the program that uses bugs to test products and he actually said that he was surprised that he has not had PETA protest his studies... yet.
In this ethics talk about raising, killing (humanely of course) processing and eating bugs plants were mentioned.
Did you know that eating sprouts is like eating a embryo?
In life, everything eats something else. That is the way it is. Existence doesn't care that the snake eats the cute little baby bird in the nest, or that the lion eats the herbivore, or that the deer eats the flowers in the field. They all have to eat. And in turn, they will all be consumed by something (either very small or large). The same applies to us. Nothing goes to waste in nature.
If eating meat is cruel and eating plants is also cruel, than what are we left with?
Fruit. There are holy people in India who subsist entirely on fruit. Comedian and self-educated diet specialist Dick Gregory went on an all-fruit diet sometime back in the 80's, and switched his kids to a fruitarian diet, as well. He lived this way for years, and remained in perfect health. I'm not sure, but I think he's still on it. He's in his 70's or 80's now.
The work of Dr. James Cahill has revolutionized the knowledge of plant life. From research and findings, the following has come to light:
1. Plants are intelligent. They make decisions, communicate, wage war, know when it's being attacked, etc.
2. Plants experience trauma when it's attacked (cutting of leaves, etc) and release chemical "screams."
Knowing this:
1. Does it make anyone have new thoughts about eating the next salad? Harvest that lettuce and that cut is "felt" (awareness of undesirable act against it) by the plant.
2. Does this put eating plants on par with eating meat?
3. Does this mean that eating plants or meat are equally injurious to the organism being consumed?
Well we all do need to eat something so I feel that if it were proven that plants do feel pain I guess the humane thing to do would be to eat mainly the food that does not kill the plant. Nuts and fruit, for instance can be gently picked off the trees and plants without killing them leaving them still alive, and even if it hurt them they would probably heal from it. The fruit would have fallen off and gone to waste anyway it seems to me it is meant to be eaten.
Also if you grow lettuce for instance you can just peal some of the leaves off of the head and leave the rest, that way it keeps on growing larger and can feed you much longer, plus the plant does not die.
Plants are not "intelligent" or "purposeful." They exist, they propagate. There is no thought, no planning, no self-awareness. Plants with defense mechanisms react to stimuli. Part of a plant can react. The entire plant can react. An ecosystem can react. Some plants are invasive. Some plants struggle to survive changing environments. But it is all reactive behavior--not cognitive choice. They are living things, but not sentient beings. I eat broccoli, but it isn't aware of being eaten. Lacking a nervous system means no nerves, no thought. The research pointing to plant "cognition" only explains that certain plants MAY be able to change growth or development patterns in response to environmental stimuli. That is a far, far, faaaaar distance from saying they "choose" or "plan" to do something. In other words, seedlings exposed to cold and dark conditions after germination may slow growth, but are merely reacting to the environment--they can't foresee extend cold snaps or sudden heat waves, nor are they conscious that they even happen.
You don't know that. Just because something doesn't react like humans doesn't mean they don't feel. They might be laughing at you, lol. Just because we think we're so smart doesn't mean we actually are. And believe me, as stupid as humans have become, there's got to be something out there more intelligent than us.
As for taking what you need, I would never, ever not take a doggie bag if I can't finish my meal. And I take it for me, not the doggie. I don't like any kind of wasteful action, and more so with food than other things. Not to mention a lot of food is better the second day, anyway.
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Eating Plants...Cruel?
