article thumbnail

J. Baird Callicott on the Catastrophe of Vegetarianism

Animal Ethics

It represents an increase in the efficiency of the conversion of solar energy from plant to human biomass, and thus, by bypassing animal intermediates, increases available food resources for human beings. more than under present circumstances. A vegetarian human population is therefore probably ecologically catastrophic. (

article thumbnail

J. Baird Callicott on Misanthropy

Animal Ethics

A global population of more than four billion persons and showing no signs of an orderly decline presents an alarming prospect to humanists, but it is at present a global disaster (the more per capita prosperity, indeed, the more disastrous it appears) for the biotic community.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Michael Fox on Vegetarianism

Animal Ethics

Modern livestock farming on a grand scale also wastes a colossal amount of feed grains on animals which, in times past, would simply have fed off the land. There is no doubt a good deal of truth in this last point as well, and we are here presented with a serious moral problem concerning the world food supply. One can only agree.

article thumbnail

Moral Vegetarianism, Part 1 of 13

Animal Ethics

A third of a century ago, when the modern animal-liberation movement was in its infancy, Martin published an essay entitled “A Critique of Moral Vegetarianism,” Reason Papers (fall 1976): 13-43. Some of the arguments I will present are not worked out in detail, and no detailed criticisms of any one provegetarian argument will be given.

article thumbnail

Moral Vegetarianism, Part 8 of 13

Animal Ethics

In fact, animals used for food do suffer a great deal. Now there is no doubt that the actual treatment of animals used for food is immoral, that animals are made to suffer needlessly. Now there is no doubt that the actual treatment of animals used for food is immoral, that animals are made to suffer needlessly.