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J. J. C. Smart on the Moral Elite

Animal Ethics

Let us think of the more moral members of society as a moral elite, much as the generality of scientists form a scientific elite. I hope I do not need to stress that such a moral elite must not be confused with a social or intellectual elite. I am myself not so heroic. I eat eggs though they may come from battery hens.

Morals 40
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Roger Cohen Realizes Dogs=Pigs, Sort Of

Animal Person

There is a rational, and for some people a spiritual, case for being a vegetarian: Killing animals is wrong. If you eat meat you cannot logically find it morally or ethically repugnant to eat a particular meat (I’m setting cannibalism aside here.). product that comes from an animal ). The theory is sound. There's no way out.

Pigs 100
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Hal Herzog's "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat"

Animal Person

He is an unabashed speciesist, putting humans on “a different moral plane from that of other animals” (11) due to various reasons, such as our “vastly greater capacity for symbolic language, culture, and ethical judgment” (11). On page 172, when Herzog writes, “I am conflicted over many moral issues involving animals,” I respond, “No kidding!”

Vegan 100
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On Food/Lifestyle Disputes At Home

Animal Person

While no study has documented how frequent these clashes have become, therapists agree that the green issue can quickly become poisonous because it is so morally charged. She warns wives and mothers not to move a family toward vegetarianism before everyone is ready. When I read that last sentence, I cringed.

Lifestyle 100
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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

As a longtime vegan with three vegan-from-birth children, I would like to suggest that since vegetarians are generally healthier than meat eaters, there is no excuse for compassionate people to eat animals. There is no moral difference between eating a dog or a pig, a cat or a chicken. Borders Jr. Louisville, Ky.,

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On "Food Inc."

Animal Person

There's no remotely vegan or even vegetarian (though I'm not even sure what the latter would look like) message. The moral of the story is that it's all about the way we farm animals, not that we farm them that is what needs changing. Then they yank the heads, slit the throats, and de-feather and gut the chickens.

Fast Food 100
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Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on Consistency

Animal Ethics

which may be called the Consistency Trick—akin to that known in common parlance as the tu quoque or "you're another"—the device of setting up an arbitrary standard of "consistency," and then demonstrating that the Vegetarian himself, judged by that standard, is as "inconsistent" as other persons.