02 August 2009

Vegetarianism

This man argues that vegetarianism is immoral. Why is it immoral? Because it is "based . . . on the principle that animals are morally equivalent to humans." Vegetarianism is based on the principle that animals matter, morally. It says nothing about whether animals are "morally equivalent" to humans (whatever that means). The author seems to grasp this point in his penultimate paragraph, but doesn't notice that it undercuts his argument. Let me put it bluntly: If animals matter at all, they win, because there is no weighty interest on the other side of the scale. How sad, that such bad reasoning as this man's should see the light of day in a prominent place.