While certainly interesting research, I don't think this necessarily supports plants having emotions and/or inner lives so much as it demonstrates a sensory-feedback loop. That said, whether we consider that as "pain", or what organisms we consider capable for feeling pain is an interesting question. I frequently bring DFW's Consider the Lobster up in my personal life just because it challenges our definition of "the capacity for pain" as convenient for peace of mind.
FWIW I don't really bother trying to make ethical arguments for vegetarianism/veganism because of these tricky definition problems. I think it's a bit easier to argue for reduced meat consumption for ecological reasons, or to reduce the need for factory farming, etc.
FWIW I don't really bother trying to make ethical arguments for vegetarianism/veganism because of these tricky definition problems. I think it's a bit easier to argue for reduced meat consumption for ecological reasons, or to reduce the need for factory farming, etc.