As for cannibalism, it seems to me that its role in Eliezer’s story is to trigger a purely illogical revulsion in the humans who antropomorphise the aliens.
I dunno about you but my problem with the aliens isn’t that it is cannibalism but that the vast majority of them die slow and horribly painful deaths
No cannibalism takes place, but the same amount of death and suffering is present as in Eliezer’s scenario. Should we be less or more revolted at this?
The same.
Which scenario has the greater moral weight?
Neither. They are both horrible.
Should we say the two-species configuration is morally superior because they’ve developed a peaceful, stable society with two intelligent species coexisting instead of warring and hunting each other?
Not really because most of them still die slow and horribly painful deaths.
I dunno about you but my problem with the aliens isn’t that it is cannibalism but that the vast majority of them die slow and horribly painful deaths
The same.
Neither. They are both horrible.
Not really because most of them still die slow and horribly painful deaths.