Well the problem isn't just factory farming. Scully aims his complaints at factory farms and he does say that he's fine with eating meat farmed in the traditional methods because there farmers still respected and cared for the animals. But, and this is why he seems so torn, he makes the case that animals can suffer and therefore are of moral significance, nothing major there, and that animals are killed or suffer in meat production, also obvious, so consuming meat is generally a negative action. He also goes along with saying that meat isn't necessary any more so you're inflicting unnecessary suffering by consuming meat. If we had to eat meat then we could say it's a necessary evil but as there is no need for it we can't justify the suffering. And that's why I find his refusal to advocate vegetarianism confusing, unless it's just to appeal to a broader audience by not proposing anything too drastic.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
Well the problem isn't just factory farming. Scully aims his complaints at factory farms and he does say that he's fine with eating meat farmed in the traditional methods because there farmers still respected and cared for the animals. But, and this is why he seems so torn, he makes the case that animals can suffer and therefore are of moral significance, nothing major there, and that animals are killed or suffer in meat production, also obvious, so consuming meat is generally a negative action. He also goes along with saying that meat isn't necessary any more so you're inflicting unnecessary suffering by consuming meat. If we had to eat meat then we could say it's a necessary evil but as there is no need for it we can't justify the suffering. And that's why I find his refusal to advocate vegetarianism confusing, unless it's just to appeal to a broader audience by not proposing anything too drastic.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~