Fraggle Rocker said:
And why is that an important difference?
Because the latter is insanely more complex than the former.
It seems possible, at this point, that part of the problem leading to the cynicism that Quadraphonics and I have shown some of these ideas is because, for instance, the "Principle of Equal Consideration" means something even broader and more liberal to us than it does to James. When Quad writes, for instance, "
I see little reason to think that wild animals have no interest in their governance - they often fight about it rather dramatically", I feel as if I understand the point he's making. And if that's true, then I need to figure out why it is so confusing or, in some cases, offensive to other people.
And what strikes me most directly—accepting that people can often read the same words and arrive at different understandings according to definitions, applications, and the various boundaries demarcating ideas—is that the boundaries of our definition of an idea or term might be broader than, say, James intends.
That's why I talk about putting the cougar on trial. Or that string of questions I asked about the bear.
To those who might recall a sharply political subject around here, I often argue about abortion under similar contextual stresses.
If we write an anti-abortion law according to supportable principles of law, and not arbitrarily to accommodate a static frame taken from a dynamic set of ideas,
then these are the problems. Thus we end up with arguments about women having to check in with the authorities if their period is irregular, to make sure there hasn't been a death to report.
Likewise, in reorienting our definitions of commonality, rights, and status according to some of the animal-equality rhetoric we see,
if we develop these ideas around supportable principles, and not arbitrarily—e.g., moral vegetarianism and the end of
The Met's Prime New York Peppercorn Steak (and rare, at that)—
then these are the problems I'm having figuring out how this is going to work.
I mean, by some of the principles put forward, the world will need some sort of review process to determine what qualifies as
food.
A large dairy animal approached Zaphod Beeblebrox's table, a large fat meaty quadruped of the bovine type with large watery eyes, small horns and what might almost have been an ingratiating smile on its lips.
....."Good evening," it lowed and sat back heavily on its haunches, "I am the main Dish of the Day. May I interest you in parts of my body?" It harrumphed and gurgled a bit, wriggled its hind quarters into a more comfortable position and gazed peacefully at them.
.....Its gaze was met by looks of startled bewilderment from Arthur and Trillian, a resigned shrug from Ford Prefect and naked hunger from Zaphod Beeblebrox.
....."Something off the shoulder perhaps?" suggested the animal, "Braised in a white wine sauce?"
....."Er, your shoulder?" said Arthur in a horrified whisper.
....."But naturally my shoulder, sir," mooed the animal contentedly, "nobody else's is mine to offer."
.....Zaphod leapt to his feet and started prodding and feeling the animal's shoulder appreciatively.
....."Or the rump is very good," murmured the animal. "I've been exercising it and eating plenty of grain, so there's a lot of good meat there." It gave a mellow grunt, gurgled again and started to chew the cud. It swallowed the cud again.
....."Or a casserole of me perhaps?" it added.
....."You mean this animal actually wants us to eat it?" whispered Trillian to Ford.
....."Me?" said Ford, with a glazed look in his eyes, "I don't mean anything."
....."That's absolutely horrible," exclaimed Arthur, "the most revolting thing I've ever heard."
....."What's the problem Earthman?" said Zaphod, now transferring his attention to the animal's enormous rump.
....."I just don't want to eat an animal that's standing here inviting me to," said Arthur, "it's heartless."
....."Better than eating an animal that doesn't want to be eaten," said Zaphod.
....."That's not the point," Arthur protested. Then he thought about it for a moment. "Alright," he said, "maybe it is the point. I don't care, I'm not going to think about it now. I'll just ... er ..."
.....The Universe raged about him in its death throes.
....."I think I'll just have a green salad," he muttered.
....."May I urge you to consider my liver?" asked the animal, "it must be very rich and tender by now, I've been force-feeding myself for months."
....."A green salad," said Arthur emphatically.
....."A green salad?" said the animal, rolling his eyes disapprovingly at Arthur.
....."Are you going to tell me," said Arthur, "that I shouldn't have green salad?"
....."Well," said the animal, "I know many vegetables that are very clear on that point. Which is why it was eventually decided to cut through the whole tangled problem and breed an animal that actually wanted to be eaten and was capable of saying so clearly and distinctly. And here I am."
.....It managed a very slight bow.
....."Glass of water please," said Arthur.
(Adams)
____________________
Notes:
Adams, Douglas. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. 1980. Flag.Blackened.net. December 5, 2010. http://flag.blackened.net/dinsdale/dna/book2.html
