Introduction

Meat is one of the earliest foods discovered to have been consumed by humans. Throughout human history, meat has been the primary source of nutrition for many communities. Many different animals are used to produce meat, and these animals can be either domesticated or wild. Similarly, meat consumption has not been restricted over the centuries, even though the sources of meat in different communities have historically come from various animals. A growing number of diet conservatives and trends advocate for the consumption of only foods that come from plants. It is due to the health risks that are associated with the consumption of meat.

Working Thesis Statement: A critical argument analysis investigates what ethical concerns directly affect meat consumers in terms of what meat they choose to consume. Furthermore, environmental reasons may be a defining factor for people to decide why and how they should limit their beef consumption. The main concerns about meat consumption are the treatment of animals and the environmental impact.

Detailed Outline

1. Working Thesis Statement: A critical argument analysis investigates what ethical concerns directly affect meat consumers in terms of what meat they choose to consume. Furthermore, environmental reasons may be a defining factor for people to decide why and how they should limit their beef consumption. The main concerns about meat consumption are the treatment of animals and the environmental impact.
2. Hook with description statistics on beef consumption.
3. Introduce two concerns: humane treatment, environment

Source: Consumer acceptance of cultured meat: an updated review

1. Ethical Issues

Both the production of meat and the eating of meat are subject to moral and ethical examination because of the role that meat plays in society. The discussion does not provide any moral grounds for ethical analysis or arguments despite the availability of vegetarian alternatives and individual preferences regarding the consumption of animal meat. It is because personal tastes and preferences have nothing to do with the issue. As a consequence, the analytical investigation of ethical concerns is founded on the societal and logical perspectives of the perceptions of meat consumption in different societies.

1. Humans should have a moral High Ground.

Humans are at the helm of world dominion and thus have the responsibility to protect and preserve the earthly creation. The fact that humans are at the top of the food chain on Earth implies that they have a greater influence over the world and everything in it. Humans are at the top of the food chain; therefore, they decide what to eat and what not to eat, including animals and plants. Feinberg et al. (2019) argue that humans should use their intelligence to make the best decisions about what to eat and what to preserve for this responsibility. humans must use their moral and intellectual superiority to promote and improve animals’ welfare to achieve positive change. As a result, rather than justifying the cruelty of eating animals, this will provide moral grounds for establishing animal protection.

1. Animals have feelings, and they are intelligent to understand

It is critical to recognize that animals exhibit higher levels of cognitive responsiveness than expected. Animals have enough intelligence to understand whatever is going on in their surroundings. Animals have been slaughtered for lack of purpose since the beginning of time. In comparison to humans, they cannot feel or have relationships with animals, according to previous research. Understanding that animals experience pain and other forms of emotional expression are critical. Animals, on the other hand, can perceive feelings, see the underlying discord, and align their emotions appropriately (Bryant & Barnett, 2020). The slaughter of animals and using them as a source of meat has no justification. Therefore, animals must be treated with dignity and have the protection of humans.

1. Animals face Inhumane treatment.

The animals are handled in a way that depicts that they are going to die, and there is no insistence on taking care of them. Animals to be slaughtered have no regard for treaties according to their safety and well-being; rather, the focus is always on what the humane society will provide. For instance, animals for slaughter have no treatment, regardless of whether their safety matters (Rothgerber, 2020). Because the animals will not be slaughtered for meat, livestock keepers are not required to provide basic care.

Source 1: Understanding the process of moralization: How eating meat becomes a moral issue.

Source 2: Consumer acceptance of cultured meat: an updated review

• Environmental Issues

Butchering animals for their meat is closely associated with several environmental problems. Environmental principles are important for the environment itself and the effects they have on people, other animals, and plants. Environmental principles are important. The problems that affect the environment are a major cause for concern because they may be more significant than what the human community thinks affects them.

1. The increase in Carbon emissions

Large herds of cattle raised for slaughter are a significant source of CO2 and methane gas. Over The years, there has been a significant increase in greenhouse gases, accelerating climatic changes and weather conditions. The gases contaminate the air and contribute to the increasing effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. Consequently, there are adverse effects on agricultural production and overall climatic conditions (Bryant & Barnett, 2020). Large herds also contribute to environmental contamination due to the large amount of meat produced by animals raised for meat. The manure also neatly affects groundwater through leaching and surface washing of the manure, which deposits in natural sources of water like rivers and water reservoirs.

1. Annihilation of Wildlife

Culturing feed for meat-producing animals and rearing animals on expansive tracts of land go hand in hand. Clearing large areas of forest and natural vegetation to make way for farms that grow animal feed helps to preserve large tracts of land. However, this practice destroys large areas of natural vegetation and forest. For instance, raising livestock requires a sufficient amount of pasture, and farmers cultivate large tracts of land to grow pastures and produce animal feeds. When natural vegetation and forests are cut down, the animals’ natural habitats are eradicated, which can devastate their populations (Rothgerber, 2020). Consequently, the wild animals will not have access to good areas for food gathering and habitat. As a result of the destruction of their habitat, the wildlife is now compelled to look for new homes and has altered their patterns of reproduction as a direct result.

1. Antibiotics

Raising large herds of animals results in a significant increase in the amount of meat produced. More intensive farming practices are required when raising large herds of animals like cattle in order to keep the animals healthy and free from disease. The vaccination and treatment of large herds of cattle in large quantities are the only ways to protect against the disease (Feinberg et al., 2019). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have arisen due to the widespread practice of administering antibiotics in large doses to treat and eradicate the bacteria that cause diarrhea. It is becoming increasingly difficult to manage bacterial diseases as they spread to other animals.

Source 1: Understanding the process of moralization: How eating meat becomes a moral issue.

Source 2: Meat-related cognitive dissonance: A conceptual framework for understanding how meat eaters reduce negative arousal from eating animals.

Source 3: Animal ethics and eating animals: Consumer segmentation based on domain-specific values.

1. Health Benefits of Meat
2. Meat is a source of protein

One of the most common protein sources in human civilization’s history is meat. There are a lot of different places to get protein, but one of the most common places is meat. In the communities of traditional hunter-gatherers, the community kept animals to gather meat (Rothgerber, 2020). Meat is present in almost every meal eaten in the modern world, from pizza to hamburgers, both of which are examples of foods that billions of people worldwide consume daily.

1. Meat from natural rearing is healthier in comparison to modern foods.

Cattle reared using traditional methods are allowed access to natural sources of pasture. The natural consumption of the pastures by the calves provides them with the necessary nutrients at the appropriate times. Due to the animals’ consumption of inconsistent feed ratios, they are not susceptible to the effects of the environment (Holker, von Meyer-Hofer, & Spiller, 2019). Because of this, the animals are in better health, and their meat consumption is beneficial for providing a nutritional supplement.

Source 1: Understanding the process of moralization: How eating meat becomes a moral issue.

Source 2: Meat-related cognitive dissonance: A conceptual framework for understanding how meat eaters reduce negative arousal from eating animals.

1. Counterargument
2. Meat Eating is no longer Sustainable

Human civilization is evolving rapidly, and the food demands of previous decades and centuries differ from the current demands. The world is seeing the development of different sources of foods that complement meat or can replace the consumption of meat. Additionally, there are many sources of meat that provide meat plentifully and faster in comparison to traditional meat sources. It is also evident that the contemporary world is not similar to the previous world regarding meat demand and consumption, as we are no longer hunter-gatherer societies that depend solely on meat as food and livestock as their livelihood (Feinberg et al., 2019). The modern world has also seen animals like pigs, cattle, and chickens kept in large numbers in limited spaces, needing plenty of water, pastures, and land. However, with decreasing land sizes, this venture is no longer sustainable. The rearing of meat animals is becoming inefficient. As a result, as the human population grows, so will the competition for scarce resources.

Source 1: Understanding the process of moralization: How eating meat becomes a moral issue.

Source 2: Meat-related cognitive dissonance: A conceptual framework for understanding how meat eaters reduce negative arousal from eating animals.

1. Conclusion
2. There is no substantial argument against eating meat, and there is no evidence as to why there are genuine concerns when one considers the ethical and environmental arguments against doing so.
3. Sustainable farming methods may provide the grounds for environmental concerns about eating and producing meat. However, they cannot override that climate change is a major factor for the world and the coming generations. Because humans are the custodians of the Earth, they are responsible for the upkeep of everything that lives on it. The fact that the decision to eat meat is a personal one is essential to keep in mind. However, it is also essential to consider the influence of eating meat on ethics and the environment.

Source 1: Meat-related cognitive dissonance: A conceptual framework for understanding how meat eaters reduce negative arousal from eating animals.

Reflecting Questions

1. Learning to conduct research is important because it is a skill you will use both in academia and in your professional life. It improves critical thinking and empowers you to find information for yourself. Consider the process of researching as a whole. What was the most challenging aspect of the process for you? (2-3 sentences)

The most challenging aspect of the research process is identifying the appropriate materials to use as sources of information. Most resources do not provide an in-depth analysis of the topic, and their research and scholarly evidence must be properly aligned. For this reason, I chose the sources with the most detailed analysis.

2. The working thesis statement is a proposed answer to your research question. It should clearly identify a debatable topic and take a position on one side of that topic. Analyze the effectiveness of your working thesis statement. (3-4 sentences)

The thesis statement is vital in providing the trajectory and outline of the discussions. Providing a one-sided scope of analysis means that the research will follow a specific projection that strengthens the argument’s discussion sides. It is simple to establish an appropriate outline for discussing the ideas using the thesis as a reference. Through the discussion, I will substantiate why the research question weighs the discussion.

3. A detailed outline is an effective tool for laying out the progression of an argument. It allows you to consider the arrangement and organization of your ideas, as well as choose places to incorporate outside source materials. Review your detailed outline and summarize the argument you’ve presented. (3-4 sentences)

Addressing the discussion points from the point of reference to the thesis and the outline provides a follow-through network necessary for explaining the facts. The outline provides the framework for discussing each evidence and point of argument step by step and in detail. Discuss the research question concerning the working conditions, develop the argument, and finally acknowledge the inappropriate meat consumption concerning ethical and environmental concerns.

4. You will use the same topic on three of the remaining Touchstones in this course. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you? What are specific questions you might have as you go deeper into the research process? (2-3 sentences)

It will be interesting to have the opportunity to discuss the topic again. Additional insight will be defining for me as it is vital for providing a different angle on the argument. I want more clarification on the organization and structuring of the research paper.

References

Bryant, C., & Barnett, J. (2020). Consumer acceptance of cultured meat: an updated review (2018–2020). Applied Sciences, 10(15), 5201.

Feinberg, M., Kovacheff, C., Teper, R., & Inbar, Y. (2019). Understanding the process of moralization: How eating meat becomes a moral issue. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 117(1), 50.

Hölker, S., von Meyer-Höfer, M., & Spiller, A. (2019). Animal ethics and eating animals: Consumer segmentation based on domain-specific values. Sustainability, 11(14), 3907.

Rothgerber, H. (2020). Meat-related cognitive dissonance: A conceptual framework for understanding how meat eaters reduce negative arousal from eating animals. Appetite, 146, 104511.