Empathy and turkeys — a half-serious post on the day before Thanksgiving?
Should we empathize with turkeys? This is treacherous moral ground, and I am of the opinion that in our morals, we must each be guided by our own conscience.
Vegans don’t eat any animal products, often because of a sense of empathy with them. I respect that.
I also know that domesticated animals wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for farming. Most farm animals wouldn’t survive in the wild—or even exist at all—without farmers. I also respect the farmers, especially those dedicated to humane treatment of the animals they breed for a living. And I believe the gift of life, even on a farm, is better than no life at all.
As a thought experiment, let’s take it a step further. What if everyone were vegan? The world would have fewer animals and fewer farms, in short, less life on earth. Maybe that is a good thing or maybe it’s a bad thing, I don’t know.
To take it one step further, what if every carnivore in the food chain suddenly became vegan? In that case, the whole ecosystem would collapse. The natural order of things is a balance between predators and prey, and in the long run, both benefit from this arrangement.
So tomorrow, I for one will be eating turkey, along with plenty of vegetables and I hope only a modest amount of pie. I’m looking forward to it all and grateful to be here to enjoy another Thanksgiving with family and friends.
This post is part of my Gratitude Project 2025: The Magic of Empathy — a 30-day exploration of empathy and gratitude. Visit the hub to follow along or catch up on past reflections.
If you’d like to explore the science behind gratitude, visit the Greater Good Science Center’s Gratitude Resources.
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