[MissKitten]

I think this may be a paradox, but i'm kinda iffy.

So there's an animal lover. He loves all animals. Yes, even snakes and spiders. So he's walking along and suddenly, he sees a spiderweb. There is a fly caught in the web. What does he do-feed the spider or save the fly?

Edited January 21, 2011 by MissKitten

[peace*out]

also:in order to free the fly, the web would be destroyed.

[Guest]

I think it would depend upon how crazy this animal lover is.

The most stable version of this animal lover I can think of would try to free the fly if he determined it could be saved. Reasoning that the spider could kill another when he was not around to interfere. Actions would be based upon immediate need. In no way would he then stick around to save every fly. He might even try to counter his actions by searching for a dead insect to replace the fly he freed.

also:in order to free the fly, the web would be destroyed.

Both ideas are sound observations.

[MissKitten]

I think it would depend upon how crazy this animal lover is.

The most stable version of this animal lover I can think of would try to free the fly if he determined it could be saved. Reasoning that the spider could kill another when he was not around to interfere. Actions would be based upon immediate need. In no way would he then stick around to save every fly. He might even try to counter his actions by searching for a dead insect to replace the fly he freed.

Extremely crazy. Like I said before, he would save the fly even if it died immediately afterwards.

also:in order to free the fly, the web would be destroyed.

Exactly. In saving the fly, the spider would have to rebuild its web. So he can't exactly search for a dead fly to feed the spider. Plus, the spider might die of starvation while rebuilding the web.

[Guest]

I haven't read through this entire topic, but I did see the reasoning including the idea that the flys wings were damaged. I am going to, for the sake of keeping the paradox, assume the wings are not damaged and that there is no more to this than feed the spider or save the fly.

First, we must assign a a value to each life.

I believe that we, as humans, value life depending on its intelligence or its significance to our own lives. First we value humans, then large animals, then insects, then microscopic bacteria, etc..

I'd say the spider's life is worth more than twice the fly's in this respect. Spiders can be percieved as creatures of beauty, and so this can affect our own lives. FLys are often used in analogies, metaphors, etc., as insignificant beings.

So, assigning a 50/50 chance of the spider dying with no food, I would leave the fly. The spider's life is just worth more.

There are two more factors to consider, but they both go in favor of the spider:

It would require additional effort on my part to save the fly. This is a small reason for not doing it, but is a reason noetheless.

Then there's the basic idea of preserving the balance of nature. one being preying on another is part of nature, and we have no right to claim we know better than the system perfected and honed by evolution over the countless millenia.

[Guest]

@DL i dont think spiders are herbivores. and thanks.

@peace what if the fly's wings weren't damaged? and even if they were, wouldnt the animal lover try to fix them by taking care of the fly or something? i mean, he's an animal lover.

I agree with you, you can't fix wings of insects, only God can do that. Plus they are ANIMAL lovers. Insects, I don't count as animals.

Edited March 14, 2011 by Collette

[MissKitten]

yes, but what you are forgetting is that insects fall under the animal kingdom, regardless of what you think.

[Quag]

let spider eat the fly.

Spiders eat flies it is nature

Flies spread disease, disease kills animals and people.

Besides the movie the fly creeps me out way more than eight legged freaks or arachnaphobia