Vegan Debate - Are we truly Herbivores or Omnivores.

fuzzylop72

Obviously humans are omnivores, I don't think it's a serious debate. However, this means we are adapted to basically eat anything, not that we necessarily have to choose to eat both plants and animals. This is what let us thrive in various climates where food sources might be somewhat limited.

This also means we can make a conscious choice to not consume animal products if we so desire (or to only consume animal products).

Nony_Mouse

NoxDineen wrote: »

Medical anthropologist and vegan here. Homo sapiens sapiens is an omnivore. The loonies who try to argue we're frugivorous blissfully ignore the entirety of palaeoanthropology and archaeology (the "paleo" diet folks at the other end of the spectrum are pretty off-base too).

BUT! While we were evolving as omnivores we evolved a super kickass brain which, as luck would have it, is an incredible example of exaptation (something that evolves for one reason becoming useful for another reason). So we are perfectly capable of using our brains to meet our nutritional needs as herbivores now. We also evolved consciousness, and consequently compassion.

Oooh, waves hi to another anthropologist!!

Aaron_K123

As a species we are capable of digesting both animal and plant matter and therefore we are, by definition, omnivores.

As intelligent social beings in a civilization we have individual choices as to what we choose to eat. Since we can get nutrition from both plant and animal sources we could choose to just eat plants if we want to. That doesn't make you an herbivore though, herbivore is a scientific term that means something beyond what you just happen to choose to eat.

summerkissed

NoxDineen wrote: »

Medical anthropologist and vegan here. Homo sapiens sapiens is an omnivore. The loonies who try to argue we're frugivorous blissfully ignore the entirety of palaeoanthropology and archaeology (the "paleo" diet folks at the other end of the spectrum are pretty off-base too).

BUT! While we were evolving as omnivores we evolved a super kickass brain which, as luck would have it, is an incredible example of exaptation (something that evolves for one reason becoming useful for another reason). So we are perfectly capable of using our brains to meet our nutritional needs as herbivores now. We also evolved consciousness, and consequently compassion.

Vegans usually annoy me with there philosophies but you are AWESOME!!! Very well said and I respect you very much!!

Aaron_K123

NoxDineen wrote: »

Medical anthropologist and vegan here. Homo sapiens sapiens is an omnivore. The loonies who try to argue we're frugivorous blissfully ignore the entirety of palaeoanthropology and archaeology (the "paleo" diet folks at the other end of the spectrum are pretty off-base too).

BUT! While we were evolving as omnivores we evolved a super kickass brain which, as luck would have it, is an incredible example of exaptation (something that evolves for one reason becoming useful for another reason). So we are perfectly capable of using our brains to meet our nutritional needs as herbivores now. We also evolved consciousness, and consequently compassion.

I realize now after reading more that my post was just a rehash of this post. So could have just pointed to this.