# Cremation , Embalming, and even simple Burial are Unethical **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 5, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891 "2012-04-05T05:40:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/41 "2012-04-07T12:32:16Z")
Couldn’t we just take the bodies to the quarry and throw them in? d&r ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/42 "2012-04-07T16:29:01Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646560) > > So we humans are on top of the food chain. I have no problems with eating other species. I don’t see anything unethical about that. > > But it occurs to me that if I accept nature and evolution to validate my right to eat other species, then I should allow other species to feed off me when I can no longer defend and preserve my life. To deny the scavengers and bugs to feast on my corpse and complete the circle of life is an afront to ecology. your use of the word “right” makes no sense in the context of an argument. The only way we can survive is to eat other living things. You might as well argue over the right to breath. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/43 "2012-04-07T17:35:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The only way we can survive is to eat other living things. Given the context, it appears the OP was making a naturalistic argument for eating animals - which we explicitly don’t need to eat in order to survive. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/44 "2012-04-08T07:24:00Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Wooden caskets decompose more gradually and more, less, well, “disgustingly” than any metal safes some people seem to want. > > I THINK in some states embalming is required, but I could be wrong. I do believe that caskets are required, for public health reasons. But even with embalming it’s not forever, so you’re still worm\* food anyways. The small town cemetery my grandparents are buried in required a vault, in addition to the casket. It is to prevent the graved caving in as the casket rots away. Personally, I’d rather skip the vault and put that money into a fund that will pay some guy with a shovel to come toss more dirt on top of my grave. Grave diggers have to eat too. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/45 "2012-04-08T07:49:04Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The only way we can survive is to eat other living things. I’m not sure if that’s technically true. It might, however, take a significant amount of effort to replicate all of the molecules that we require as nourishment, artificially, from inorganic compounds. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/46 "2012-04-12T16:14:29Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Worms gotta eat, same as vultures. – Josey Wales Ahem. Your version lacks the poetry of the original. “Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.” Cite - [The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - Quotes - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075029/quotes) ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/47 "2012-04-12T20:49:00Z")
Combine some of the most promisng suggestons: Viking burial. Sailboat with corpse, set afloat, start on fire. Ok, it’s not carbon-neutral, but it’s got style. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/48 "2012-04-21T16:18:46Z")
With today’s mandatory burial vaults and the popularization of sealed metal coffins, it’s going to be a VERY long time before any worms get to nosh on your remains. I figure cremation at least would make me take up less real estate, leaving more land to be left for the antelope (etc.) to roam. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/49 "2012-04-21T16:28:22Z")
I think the better question is whether or not a human has the right to tie up a 6’ x 4’ plot of ground for eternity? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/50 "2012-04-21T18:42:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think the better question is whether or not a human has the right to tie up a 6’ x 4’ plot of ground for eternity? I thought I read somewhere (here?) that in some countries, you DON’T get it for eternity - but for 40 years or so, then your heirs have to move you, or pay more money, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/51 "2012-04-21T20:26:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think the better question is whether or not a human has the right to tie up a 6’ x 4’ plot of ground for eternity? Eternity? How many ancient Egyptian cemeteries still exist? … OK fine, bad example. ---
**Author:** ![DearestDane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@DearestDane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DearestDane)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/52 "2012-04-22T09:37:56Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I thought I read somewhere (here?) that in some countries, you DON’T get it for eternity - but for 40 years or so, then your heirs have to move you, or pay more money, or something. In Danish graveyards, you only have your grave for a limited number of years. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891/53 "2012-04-22T10:58:57Z")
Obviously, the only solution is sandwiches. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremation-embalming-and-even-simple-burial-are-unethical/617891.md?page=2)