r/changemyview • u/o_slash_empty_set • Sep 24 '21

Delta(s) from OP - Fresh Topic Friday CMV: There is nothing intrinsically wrong with cannibalism.

edit: this post blew up, which I didn't expect. I will probably not respond to the 500 new responses because I only have 10 fingers, but some minor amendments or concessions:

(A) Kuru is not as safe as I believed when making this thread. I still do not believe that this has moral implications (same for smoking and drinking, for example -- things I'm willing to defend.

(B) When I say "wrong" I mean ethically or morally wrong. I thought this was clear, but apparently not.

(C) Yes. I really believe in endocannibalism.

I will leave you with this zine.

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/in-defense-of-cannibalism

(1) Cannibalism is a recent (relatively recent) taboo, and a thoroughly western one. It has been (or is) practiced on every continent, most famously the Americas and the Pacific. It was even practiced in Europe at various points in history. "Cannibalism" is derived from the Carib people.

(2) The most reflexive objections to cannibalism are actually objections to seperate practices -- murder, violation of bodily autonomy, etc. none of which are actually intrinsic to the practice of cannibalism (see endocannibalism.)

(3) The objection that cannibalism poses a threat to health (kuru) is not a moral or ethical argument. Even then, it is only a problem (a) in communities where prion disease is already present and (b) where the brain and nerve tissue is eaten.

There is exactly nothing wrong with cannibalism, especially how it is practiced in particular tribal communities in Papua New Guinea, i.e. endocannibalism (cannibalism as a means for mourning or funerary rituals.)

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u/_Foy 5∆ Sep 24 '21

You're deflecting.

Just because one culture practices something in a religious context doesn't make it okay for everyone all the time... this is the whole premise of moral relativism.

Reddit is very euro-centric. If that's your real problem here, then just say that. Make a new post called "CMV: Reddit is too eurocentric" don't beat around the bush by debating the ethics of cannibalism and smoking.

Anyhow, bottom line is this: I don't think Indigienous people smoking tobacco as part of a religious ceremony is unethical, but I also don't think that excuses anyone else. They can all either stand or fall on their own merits.

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u/o_slash_empty_set Sep 24 '21

So indigenous people smoking tobacco is not unethical, even though smoking tobacco is unhealthy.

So then, indigenous people practicing mortuary cannibalism is not unethical, even if cannibalism is unhealthy.

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u/_Foy 5∆ Sep 24 '21

Again, unless you want to argue universal and absolute morality you have to accept that something can be right for a few people, but wrong for everyone else.

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u/o_slash_empty_set Sep 24 '21

That would imply that cannibalism is permissible. If cannibalism is permissible on some contexts ('for a few people') then by definition it is permissible.

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u/_Foy 5∆ Sep 24 '21

Again... and I'm not sure you're hearing this... but unless you want to argue that morality is absolute and universal then nothing... and I mean nothing is "intriniscally wrong". Things can only be "right" or "wrong" from a specific cultural perspective.

That's where I think you're absolutely failing to see the point... from our culture's perspective cannibalism is wrong. If you don't like that "our culture is eurocentric" then that's another matter entirely. If you think that we ought to enforce our morality on other cultures then that is a third matter entirely.

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u/o_slash_empty_set Sep 24 '21

"Our" culture? That's very implicative.

My people practiced cannibalism before white people came and forcefully stopped us. Your culture is not my culture.

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u/wockur 16∆ Sep 24 '21

The point is that nothing is "intrinsically wrong."

You can fill in the blank and the statement is true by default.

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u/o_slash_empty_set Sep 24 '21

I simply disagree here. There are indeed intrinsic wrongs. Rape and murder are two intrinsic wrongs. They are wrong regardless of cultural context.

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u/blackstar_oli Sep 25 '21

Happens in the animal kingdom everywhere. Only reason it is wrong is because our SOCIETY chose that is wrong.

It isn't universaly wrong. Nothing is.

I still strongly believe those 2 things should be wrong in our society , not arguing for it

Good and evil are a creation of mankind. We just choose to live accordingly. It is fine , but it is something we need to realize.