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On a New Level of Absurdity in the Slaughter Business

Animal Person

"While plenty of people pay attention to the question of what it means to raise an animal humanely, far fewer stop to consider the notion—and the ostensible paradox—of humane slaughter." But by presenting that example to the reader, the author positions herself to then present an alternative that is worlds better by comparison.

Slaughter 100
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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 11 of 13

Animal Ethics

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. Nobody wants existing animals to be slaughtered.

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Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on "Humane Slaughter"

Animal Ethics

The plea that animals might be killed painlessly is a very common one with flesh-eaters, but it must be pointed out that what-might-be can afford no exemption from moral responsibility for what-is. Henry S.

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Jan Narveson on Moral Vegetarianism

Animal Ethics

It would remain true, of course, that the vegetarian diet is more limited, since every pleasure available to the vegetarian is also available to the carnivore (not counting the moral satisfactions involved, of course—which would be question-begging), plus more which are not available to the vegetarian so long as he remains one.

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R. G. Frey on Feeling and Principle

Animal Ethics

That is, if what the vegetarian wants is that we should stop eating meat even if we like eating it and even if our liking for it greatly exceeds our revulsion at the suffering of animals in being raised and slaughtered for food, then a decision to stop eating meat would seem to amount to a decision of principle.

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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

If the goal is not moral perfection for ourselves, but the maximum benefit for animals, half-measures ought to be encouraged and appreciated. Mr. Steiner rightly rejects this view as morally flawed. If we are not justified in eating mackerel ourselves, are we not also morally obligated to stop the slaughter brought on by the tuna?

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Deconstructing Slate's "Pepper" Series

Animal Person

There's a vague sense that perhaps he cares about the dogs or thinks that what he does to them might present an ethical dilemma, but the overwhelming feeling is that it's all worth it. He writes as if what he used to do--and what he defends--is morally justifiable on its face, and it's just the details that might be questionable.