The best argument against meat eaters?

[Mateo3112]

I was disscusing with my friend about whether or not animal consumption was wrong, and the only argument he had no counterargument to was that animals require an enormous amount of water to survive, therefore we were wasting a valuable resource. I didn't expect that argument would have that effect on him, but when you think about it, it is pretty much irrefutable. All living creatures need water to survive, and there isn't much water on earth. Animal farming then seems like a waste, doesn't it?
What do you think? Is it really the best argument against a meat eater or do you know a better one?

[miniboes]

I don't think there is one single best argument. Different arguments will appeal to different people, because people care about different things. The fact that he had rebuttals to your other arguments does not mean they are necessarily worse; another person might not have rebuttals to those and have plenty of rebuttals for the water argument.

Most of the time I'll just name a short list of the broad topics, and the other person will say something like "Wait, why environment? What does that have to do with it?" or "What does our treatment of animals matter?". Then that will be what the discussion is about. Through experience, you'll be able to argue better and know more arguments.

So far, most of the people I talk to tend to care most about the environmental aspects. Climate change and land use were more compelling to them than water use. I suppose that's mostly because in the Netherlands we are far more concerned about drowning than thirst.

[Unknownfromheaven]

Obvious health issues, ethical and environmental combined in one argument is the best.

[miniboes]

Obvious health issues, ethical and environmental combined in one argument is the best.

Wouldn't that necessarily be multiple arguments?

[Unknownfromheaven]

Obvious health issues, ethical and environmental combined in one argument is the best.

Wouldn't that necessarily be multiple arguments?

Does anyone stops with only one argument when facing a debate ?

[miniboes]

Obvious health issues, ethical and environmental combined in one argument is the best.

Wouldn't that necessarily be multiple arguments?

Does anyone stops with only one argument when facing a debate ?

You said 'combined into one argument'

[Unknownfromheaven]

Wouldn't that necessarily be multiple arguments?

Does anyone stops with only one argument when facing a debate ?

You said 'combined into one argument'

I was wrong.

[brimstoneSalad]

I focus on the moral argument, because health is a component of that -- if meat isn't healthy, it makes it even worse that people are still eating it despite the harm. If it were the most healthy thing to eat, then it would be at least partially justified by that. Environmental arguments are also a component of the moral argument, if somebody reveals that he or she doesn't care anything at all for non-human animals and is a committed speciesist -- environmental harm threatens human well being.