Marcus Vinicius Neves

As a law graduate and current Master's student in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex, my main research topic revolves around human-animal relations, where I advocate for animal rights expansion. In this story, I aim to put this into perspective when an alien race philosophically discusses having humans as a food source. As I perceive it, most villains in the history of the world did not consider themselves to be villains, yet history has considered some to be and some not to be. Several paths have led us to cruelty and salvation; this story presents a quirky path that, understood as it is, may illuminate how oddly we might stumble into causing cruelty, even if considering ourselves ethical, advanced, sophisticated, and so on and so forth.

My aim with "The Jacksons Debate" is not to provide definitive answers to the ethical questions it raises, but rather to explore the complexities of those questions and the potential for bias even within a society that prides itself on being highly considerate and meticulous. The elongated philosophical debates are intentional, serving as a reflection of the Jacksons' personality and their tendency to engage in profound, sometimes rambling, discussions. The lack of a counterpoint perspective is also deliberate, highlighting the possibility of overlooking crucial aspects of reality, even when operating from a position of perceived ethical superiority.

The story intentionally blends fiction with real scientific concepts to create a sense of plausibility and ground the narrative in a relatable context. This allows for a deeper exploration of the potential for constructing narratives that, while scientifically sound, may lead to morally questionable conclusions. The ultimate message is that scientific knowledge, while essential, does not necessarily dictate ethical imperatives.