Animal Person

FEBRUARY 5, 2010

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.). Tags: Current Affairs Ethics Food and Drink Gray Matters.

Pigs 100

Pigs Dogs Meat Ethics 100

Animal Ethics

APRIL 16, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Glass-Walled Slaughter Houses Mel Morse, former president of the Humane Society of the United States, once remarked: “If every one of our slaughter houses were constructed of glass this would be a nation of vegetarians.”

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Humane Society Of The United States Slaughter 40

Animal Person

MAY 6, 2009

The book, which I have not read, that saved Derrick Jensen 's life is called The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability by Lierre Keith, who was a vegan for 20 years, suffered serious medical problems, and started feeling better when she recommenced eating animals. Throughout the book, Keith mocks vegetarians and vegans.

Vegan 100

Vegan Vegetarian Factory Farm Factory Farming 100

Animal Ethics

MARCH 27, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. ARGUMENTS FOR MORAL VEGETARIANISM A variety of arguments have been given for vegetarianism. I outline two arguments of this sort in what follows in order to illustrate some of the difficulties in evaluating moral vegetarianism.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Monkeys Meat 40

Animal Person

FEBRUARY 6, 2010

He writes: 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.). Tags: Current Affairs Ethics Language.

Pigs 100

Pigs Ethics Suffering Meat 100

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

There are two approaches a vegetarian might take in arguing that rearing and killing animals for food is morally offensive. A vegetarian of the first sort has no grounds for objecting to the eating of animals—molluscs for example—too rudimentary in their development to feel pain. Or he could object to the killing itself.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Morals Cows 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Human Grain Shortage All of the clearly moral arguments for vegetarianism given so far have been in terms of animal rights and suffering. Second, it seems to assume that not eating meat is the best way to conserve grain.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Cattle 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 21, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. SOME PROBLEMS OF MORAL VEGETARIANISM With respect to traditional moral vegetarianism some problems immediately come to the fore. Who Should Not Eat Meat, or What Does a Vegetarian Feed His Dog? Not necessarily.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Lions 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2011

And I suspect that people become vegetarians for precisely that reason: that by doing so they overcome the residue of guilt that attaches to every form of hubris, and in particular to the hubris of human freedom. If meat-eating should ever become confined to those who do not care about animal suffering then compassionate farming would cease.

Meat 40

Meat Vegetarian Battery Fast Food 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 9, 2009

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. I suspect that many readers of this blog are Christians but not vegetarians. KBJ: There are different reasons to abstain from meat.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Vegan 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 4, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Consequently, one ought not to eat meat until actual practice is changed. The question that must be raised, however, is how the conclusion not to eat meat follows from this. Consequently, one ought not to eat meat.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Protest Protesting 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2010

Either the vegetarian argues on utilitarian premises, or he tries to supplement or replace his utilitarianism with some plausible non-utilitarian principles implying the wrongfulness of rearing and killing animals for food. Either the vegetarian argues on utilitarian grounds or the vegetarian argues on nonutilitarian grounds.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Hamburgers Morals Meat 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2008

The strongest part of [Peter] Singer's case against meat eating is his brief discussion of the world food crisis. More specifically, they eat far more meat than is necessary to maintain adequate nutrition. But even this fails to establish a case for vegetarianism.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Fox Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 14, 2009

Some will reduce their consumption of meat for the sake of the animals. Still others will do so because they believe, rightly or wrongly, that vegetarianism (or demi-vegetarianism) is good for human beings. I believe that as time passes, humans will, for various reasons, change their diets. Others will do so for health reasons.

Meat 40

Meat Animal Welfare Vegetarian Protecting Animals 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 15, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. What Meat Should Not Be Eaten? What is forbidden meat? Most moral vegetarians list fish and fowl as animals one should not eat. Has the vegetarian who eats microorganisms along with his salad sinned against his own principles?

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Killing 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 12, 2010

But what of the many individual failures, it is asked, among those who make trial of Vegetarianism? The doctor looks wise, shakes his head, and informs a sorrowing circle that it is the direct result of "his vegetarianism." Salt , The Logic of Vegetarianism: Essays and Dialogues [London: The Ideal Publishing Union, 1899], 114-5)

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Butcher Non Human Meat 40

Animal Person

OCTOBER 26, 2009

He always refers to himself and his wife and his child as "vegetarian." But why does he say "vegetarian?" That bothers me, as there's a significant difference in motivation for vegans and vegetarians and he sounds like one, yet calls himself the other. Tags: Activism Books Ethics Language.

Factory Farm 100

Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Vegan 100

Animal Ethics

MAY 6, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. According to this argument, the view that eating the meat of nonhuman animals is morally permissible but eating the meat of human beings is morally forbidden is analogous to racism or sexism. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Speciesism Killing 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2008

And there are two relevant kinds of alternatives here: one is treating the animals better before we eat them, the only disadvantage of which is that it would make meat considerably more expensive. And the other is taking up vegetarianism. But what about the vegetarian alternative?

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Vegetarian Cooking Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 21, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Superior Aliens’ Invasion John Harris advances the following consideration to show the immorality of eating meat. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Killing Humane 40

Animal Person

JUNE 23, 2010

Interviewer: "Are you a vegetarian?". Finally, in my e-mailbox this morning, and probably in yours, was the Care2 newsletter, including a link to a column about a restaurant in Arizona that will soon serve burgers made from lion meat. The commentator says that part of her winnings will go to abolish animal cruelty (yes, abolish).

Lions 100

Lions Animal Cruelty Cruelty Chickens 100

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

McWilliams highlights the true environmental costs of eating meat: The livestock industry as a result of its reliance on corn and soy-based feed accounts for over half the synthetic fertilizer used in the United States, contributing more than any other sector to marine dead zones. The Bottom Line: One cannot be a meat-eating environmentalist.

Meat 40

Meat Livestock Transported Industry 40

Animal Ethics

JULY 15, 2009

In recent years, MRSA has been found in retail cuts of chicken, pork, beef and other meats—a particularly worrisome trend since MRSA can be contracted simply by handling infected cuts of meat. Just how prevalent is MRSA-infected meat? Better yet, go vegetarian and stop having to worry about poisoning yourself or a loved one.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Factory Farm Factory Farming Factory 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 30, 2009

Here’s another self-interested reason to not eat meat: Drug-resistant bacteria are routinely found in beef, chicken, and pork sold in supermarkets. To find out more of what the meat industry and pharmaceutical companies don't want you to know, read this Associated Press column by Margie Mason and Martha Mendoza.

Meat 40

Meat Meat Industry Farm Animal Farmed Animals 40

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Some go vegetarian first, then vegan. Then there's me, going vegetarian then vegan, and then eating filet mignon and salmon for a year before going vegan again, and my husband who went vegan overnight after being an omnivore for 38 years. We all know junk-food vegans and vegans who eat "faux meat" products every day.

Vegan 100

Vegan Factory Farm Factory Farming Slaughter 100

Animal Person

JULY 21, 2009

One manager told PETA Eats that most people prefer the vegetarian lettuce wraps over those with chicken. Not only do they have vegan entrees, but they will substitute tofu for any meat in any dish, so you can eat just about anything on the menu! Tags: Activism Current Affairs Ethics Food and Drink Language. C: What a relief.

Vegan 100

Vegan Vegetarian PETA Chickens 100

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 4, 2009

A second vegetarian strategy is simply to reject as immoral the balancing of animal pains against human pleasures. Thus John Harris's reply to the Benthamite defence of meat-eating is quite simply: 'Those who use it are saying that they think more about their stomach than their morals, and so a moral argument will probably not affect them'.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Morals Ethics 40

Animal Person

MARCH 29, 2009

There is a general consensus that vegetarianism and veganism are different philosophically. And when I spoke about a continuum over a year ago as a result of a workshop with Rae Sikora, who demonstrated that there was a continuum, there was some discontent. How about this? I assume Francione does not disagree.

Psychology 100

Psychology Campaign Animal Rights Movement Suffering 100

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 15, 2006

According to this study published today in the British Journal of Medicine , "Higher IQ at age 10 years was associated with an increased likelihood of being vegetarian at age 30." The study itself doesn't explain why individuals with higher IQs are more likely to be vegetarians as adults, but Catharine L.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Factory Farm Factory Farming Morals 40

Animal Person

JANUARY 20, 2010

I had to make exactly the same meal for her every day, so I moved to using Natural Balance Vegetarian kibble (note that the canned version is not vegan due to the animal source of Vitamin D3). Tags: Books Current Affairs Ethics Food and Drink Gray Matters.

Vegan 100

Vegan Vet Greyhounds Meat 100

Animal Ethics

JUNE 13, 2008

Vegetarianism is overdetermined, in the sense that there is more than one sufficient reason for being a vegetarian. Here is one determination of it.

Meat 40

Meat Vegetarian 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Beyond the environmental impacts of meat production there is a basic ethical issue involved. I suspect that meat consumption would decline dramatically under such a code; it would certainly make many of us less hypocritical. To suggest that eating one and not the other represents a conflict of ethics is preposterous.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles San Francisco Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Person

AUGUST 16, 2011

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). The campaign to moralize meat has largely been a failure. But I’m merely making his point.

Vegan 100

Vegan Morals Animal Rights Advocacy 100

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

I suspect that many regular readers of Animal Ethics are already vegetarians. That's because those who read Animal Ethics with regularity know that there are many compelling reasons to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease.

Lacto-Ovo 40

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Vegan Veal 40

Animal Person

JANUARY 23, 2010

God thinks vegetarians are evil, and we want to please god. Second, if the people who believe this would eat all of their "meat" unseasoned and raw, after having killed the source animal with their bare hands and ripped open the carcass with nothing but said hands and some teeth, I'd feel like maybe their argument was at least sincere.

Animal 100

Animal Killing Slaughter Slaughtered 100

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 7, 2008

Indeed, our feeling of revulsion may be so intense that we simply can no longer bring ourselves to eat meat. In other words, we become vegetarians, not through any decision of principle, but through being unable to bring ourselves to continue to dine upon the flesh of animals.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Vegetarian Meat 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 23, 2007

Hi Keith, I am writing to request a copy of "Simplifying the Case for Vegetarianism." This is one of the best essays I have read on the subject of animal ethics. Also I would like to recommend this essay by David DeGrazia to your readers.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Ethics Factory 40