I also do not value animal lives as much as human lives. But there is an important assumption built into the argument that it is ok to eat this many animals: that it is possible to raise and slaughter this number of animals without deleterious effects on humans. I believe that assumption is incorrect, and that the environmental and health consequences of the current level of meat consumption will cause immense suffering to both animals and humans.
This line of argumentation is brought forward too seldomly. It’s not solid, but as a human centrist, the only future that’s made me pause is the potential loss to human research and enjoyment if our ecosystems collapse. Animal advocates would do well to argue from opposing moral frameworks.
