Animal Ethics

JANUARY 20, 2008

Ethical vegetarianism is the thesis that killing and eating animals is morally wrong whenever equally nutritious plant-based alternatives are available. Causing an animal to suffer for no good reason is cruel, and our ordinary commonsense morality tells us in no uncertain terms that cruelty is wrong.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Ethics Lacto-Ovo 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 4, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Meat-packing companies might encourage, for example, an increased dog population to take up the slack. The question arises: Why should such indirect causal influence have any moral import? KBJ: I addressed this claim earlier.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Protest Protesting 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2006

According to this Associated Press story, if you are wearing a Sean John jacket with fur trim purchased from Macy's, that trim might have come from a dog indigenous to Asia known as a "raccoon dog." Each semester when I teach Contemporary Moral Issues, on the first day of class I begin with a survey. But is it really?

Fur 40

Fur Fur Industry HSUS Raccoons 40