> someone made fun of "fruitarians", but there are communities in india
> that use similar principles.
There are communities of people that have many different practices. The fact that they exist does not make their practice desirable per se. If you want to make an argument in favor of fruitarinism this isnt't it.
> > Okay, plants move away from dark and cold; a paramecium moves away
> > from an organism that tries to engulf it. Aren't those living things
> > "trying to avoid death"?
> >
>
> how is a plant moving away from dark and cold to be interpreted as its
> not wanting to be eaten? in particular, a part of it from being eaten?
> and if you want to rally for paramoecium rights, i am all for it. why,
> indeed, should they be subject to avoidable suffering?
>
> --ravi
The plant moving away from darkness was an example of it attempting to avoid death not being eaten. IIRC the idea of avoiding death was suggested as a test for self-awareness.
You assume a paramecium can suffer based on what evidence?
In the end you're just going to have to draw your own line. There is no perfect way to consume anything. Minimizing all possible harm to the extent that this action becomes the primary guide for your actions isn't what everyone wishes to do. If I kill a thousand earthworms digging the foundation for a building that would house a theater I will not worry for one second about the worms loss.
John Thornton