Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:37:29 +0100

In many cases, "vegatarianism" is not a lifestyle choice as it is in America, but rather is an economic necessity. Certain economies are simply not set up to supply the population with meat. In these cases, it becomes very expensive -- food only for the elite classes. In other cases, diet is part of a religious belief system. I would be interested to hear about other parts of the world where "vegetarianism" is associated with morality (at least in the eyes of those who choose to practice).

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:39:06 +0100

To be fair, in Thailand, monks live a vegetarian lifestyle. So while not everyone lives the life, it is a concept that has some (if not much) traction. As far as being close to nature? Plenty of people (if not most) in the West live far from "nature" and still eat meat, so that answer wouldn't seem to explain it. And many of the non-Western meat eaters also live far from nature (for example, mall-filled Bangkok), so that doesn't really explain their choices either. Not everything is an East/West dichotomy.

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:53:33 +0100

North American vegetarian is don't eat meat because it is now things. Unlike rest of world it is cultural belief or they can't afford one.

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:26:19 +0100

I don't know anything about the role of wealth in vegetarianism. BUt I am also pretty sure that the US consumes more meat per capita than any other nation in the world

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:50:09 +0100

I think that in some places they have to walk miles to get their water to bathe and drink and don't use as much on growing plants...

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:41:33 +0100

An important element to consider in this question/argument is that the 'The West' is wealthier than the 'other' and with wealth comes the luxury of options. With the great exception of India (and the hundreds of millions vegetarians living there), most of the world has not been given the edible effects of globalisation and people eat what is available. Vegetarians have no historical/religious roots in Western culture, as Westerners live in the least fertile areas of the globe -- so it's really just the grand privilege of choosing what you eat and how those decisions effect the planet.

In the case of Indian vegetarians, please correct me if I'm wrong, but it truly is a class related topic. Vegetarianism is, not surprisingly, considered more pure than meat eating, and said purity is linked to the higher classes' proximity to the Gods. I'm sure there are multiple answers to the history of Indian vegetarians, but this is the most obvious.

(incidentally I've lived half a year in India and happen to be vegan)

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:51:16 +0100

jdrockerfeller is right. My entire family is Indian...I guess that means I am as well. Some of the older relatives are vegetarians and are do not follow many of the western culture trends. What I'm trying to say is that western culture has not made them vegetarian, they have been that way from birth (as far as I know).

Comment on: Is Vegetariasm a Purely Western Idea?

Bigthink — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:45:46 +0100

Go to India, you'll find plenty of vegetarians there