The symbolism of meat-eating is never neutral. To himself, the meat-eater seems to be eating life. To the vegetarian, he seems to be eating death. There is a kind of gestalt-shift between the two positions which makes it hard to change, and hard to raise questions on the matter at all without becoming embattled. Mary Midgley
About This Quote

As someone who loves animals and is a fan of vegetarianism, I find it quite ironic that this quote is talking about the meat-eater. Meat-eaters, in general, are presented as being lazy, violent, and disrespectful. This quote does not speak to the vegetarian in a positive manner. It speaks to the meat-eater in a negative manner.

Source: Animals And Why They Matter

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  1. The symbolism of meat-eating is never neutral. To himself, the meat-eater seems to be eating life. To the vegetarian, he seems to be eating death. There is a kind of gestalt-shift between the two positions which makes it hard to change, and hard to raise...
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