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Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on Moral Blindness

Animal Ethics

I do not share the extreme vegetarian view that food reform is the foundation of other reforms, for I think it can be shown that all cruelties to animals, whether inflicted in the interests of the dinner-table, the laboratory, the hunting-field, or any other institution, are the outcome of one and the same error—the blindness which can see no unity (..)

Morals 40
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Philip E. Devine on the Overflow Principle

Animal Ethics

I propose that the moral significance of the suffering, mutilation, and death of non-human animals rests on the following, which may be called the overflow principle: Act towards that which, while not itself a person, is closely associated with personhood in a way coherent with an attitude of respect for persons.

Morals 40
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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 8 of 13

Animal Ethics

Becoming a vegetarian is the most practical and effective step one can take towards [sic; kbj] ending both the killing of non-human [sic; kbj] animals and the infliction of suffering upon them. One suspects that the SPCA and the American Humane Society have done more to stop cruelty to animals than vegetarians ever could.