there are societies in which it's abnormal to eat meat. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_vegetarianism or think of it this way, it's normal to drive a car or otherwise ride a vehicle in American society, but definitely unnaturalI am not sure if I understand the difference between 'natural' an 'normal' here, as it seems that 'normal' would be a given if you thought it was 'natural'.
Ok, good point. Although I have to wonder if Buddhist vegetarians consider their diets as unnatural, or less natural, than that of omnivores. At any rate, the acceptance of driving over walking or riding a horse is somewhat similar. If technology allows, we can choose to adapt our behavior. I do think a lot more people would be vegetarians if the processing of their meat weren't so abstracted. Personally, I have a harder time understanding someone that eats meat but doesn't want to consider the source than someone that is comfortable with the sourcing and isn't deterred.
Good points on the sourcing. I grew up on a dairy farm where I sourced much of my own meat. I have no qualms with eating meat and it is the main component of my diet, but I also know what it took for me to eat it. I feel that a lot of "city folk" who are so abstracted from their food would be appalled at what it takes to allow them to eat a steak.
I'm not sure. Once you start talking about our tool use, cognition, etc., then most everything we do or create can be considered natural. But then what is the purpose of the word? 'Naturally occurring' isn't too difficult, unless you start splitting hair with ant hills and beaver dams. but 'natural behavior' is really muddy. I suppose it depends on how you define 'natural'. Domestication is definitely a technology. Are all technologies unnatural? If so, then I guess horse riding is unnatural. But then so are beaver dams. But then bird nests? Hell, I have no idea.
Riding a horse the right way is very natural, riding a horse the wrong way is painful and awkward.
Yes, lol, bareback and correct riding technique. Riding that looks graceful, not painful.