Fungi

[roadman]

If fungi is closer to human than it is to fruit or vegetable then how is it ethical to eat them for vegans

[rowanwitch]

Fungi are more primitive than fruit and veg, so maybe closer to the ancestral life forms, but as we share a fair chunk of DNA with every other living thing maybe we shouldn't eat anything at all because we are related....
https://thednatests.com/how-much-dna-do-humans-share-with-other-animals/

[Atheist]

Where did you see that fungi is closer to human than it is to fruit or vegetable?
I would point out that fungi, fruit and vegetables do not have nervous systems or brains and are not sentient, cannot feel pain as we know it.
I am vegetarian essentially for humane reasons, and also because it is possible to avoid eating animals without compromising my health. I eat eggs and cheese and drink milk etc, and wear leather shoes. Life isn't simply black and white, and I do my best to get through life with a minimum of harm to other sentient beings.
I don't lecture people about their diet, and on occasion have eaten a little meat on social occasions so as not to be seen as a do-gooder.

[roadman]

well exactly where is the line

[rowanwitch]

They now know that rudimentary communication systems exist, where myccorhizal fungi provide the equivalent of a nerve network between plants.
I am not a vegetarian although I eat far less meat and fish than I used to, I grow what I can On my balcony and windowsills, and try to avoid waste where possible. We live within wider systems, I think the trick is to minimise your impact where you can, and maybe find ways of promoting change by giving to charities that are working to improve the environment.

[Atheist]

rowan; Is the "equivalent of a nerve network" between plants in anyway close to presuming that they feel pain or love or hate or wonder at the world around them? I think that pain is the important thing; if I eat them without causing pain (physical or mental) then I don't feel guilt (do they know about guilt?)

[Milvus]

To add a little more to Rowanwithch, vegetarianism and veganism is really a rationalisation. And nothing terribly wrong with that belief. Atheist makes a claim of sentience (or in his post non-sentient). What does that mean in reality. Take some examples, plants take decisive actions against stress and danger. Your roses and clematis, fruit trees etc., don’t produce more flowers and fruits to please you, they think they might die and therefore produce more pollen and seeds to continue its life through progeny. If you are lucky enough to own a nut tree like a walnut, take a cricket bat to it for 20-30 minutes in the spring. Its nut production will increase. Perceived stress and danger.Let’s add a bit more to Rowanwitch and fungi communicating. Plants first. An example is the Acacia, a tree although a relative of the pea. In Africa, a target of giraffes for food. The Acacia tree, under attack by a giraffe will produce tannins to stop the hungry giraffe feasting. But so will every other Acacia tree within 50 -70 yards even if nothing is eating it. That demonstrates an inter species communication. Flowers of many species have been found to communicate with pollinators, like bees and insects. First, by sight. Outside of the human sight frequencies, flower petals display landing areas in ultra violet and infra red colourings, directing pollinators to the correct position. Further recent investigation shows plants sending electric pulses to pollinators. So proving intra species and extra species communication. But one more thing, Rowanwitch is absolutely right in the fungi communication system is absolutely right, and in local areas like copses and forests, provides an internet like communication capability for plant species to communicate in times of need. So, what is sentience. If your food decisions are based on a lack of pain, and loss of progeny, then plants clearly react adversly to both. You might like to do a little more investigation and put your rationalisation up for discussion.

[Atheist]

Milvus; I don't agree with a lot of what you say.
I don't think that plants take "decisive action" - they simply react to certain stimuli, rather than take conscious decisions.
I think that plants might react, but they don't have feelings.
Is there any evidence that they do have felings?

[Atheist]

I mean, do you really think that plants and fungi communicate and have spats and share emotions about love affairs?

[Beaupeep]

Atheist:

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/plants-have-feelings-too