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Myth Debunked

EthicsLogical Fallacy

The Myth

Lions eat meat, so it's natural and ethical for humans to eat meat

Lions eat meat

Last reviewed: January 10, 2026

Quick Answer

Lions are obligate carnivores without moral agency. Humans are omnivores capable of ethical reasoning. We don't base our ethics on lion behavior for anything else (infanticide, violence).

Evidence Summary

The claim: "Lions eat meat, so it must be natural/ethical for humans to eat meat too." Why this argument fails: 1. Lions are obligate carnivores:

Lions MUST eat meat to survive—their bodies cannot process plant foods adequately
Humans are omnivores who can thrive on diverse diets including fully plant-based ones
Our biology is fundamentally different 2. Lions lack moral agency:
Lions cannot reason about ethics
They don't have the cognitive capacity to consider

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