Philosophy final report (Part 1)
Veganism is defined as the abstinence of using animal products. This means no consumption of meat, dairy, eggs, cheese, honey, or anything derived from an animal. Many people think of veganism as a fad diet, like Keto or Beachbody, but it is actually a lifestyle whose meaning goes much deeper than dieting for a few weeks to look your best for spring break. There are healthy vegans and unhealthy vegans, but each one is putting forth effort towards the same cause. This ideology focuses on animals and the environment. In this installment I will be going into the ethical philosophy behind factory farming, and in the next one, I will discuss the environmental impacts.
Animals have a right to live just as much as any of us. Some people argue that animals cannot do math or read, so their lives are less valuable than ours, but I do not believe the value of one’s life should be based on the tasks they can perform. Pigs are more intelligent than the average household dog, but people eat one and cherish the other. Animals are capable of feeling joy and love and I believe one of the most cruel things humans have done is disregard the feelings of others because we have become accustomed to a certain flavor of food. How can we as humans be fully compassionate and loving when we take the lives of innocents for our own personal gain?
Most people understand vegetarianism but cannot comprehend veganism, claiming it is “too extreme.” I used to be one of these people, but then I learned more about the industry and I will never turn back. Although cows and chickens are not killed to obtain dairy and eggs, they are still being held captive and there is a huge ethical question within that. Is it more or less ethical to be killed for one person’s meal, or to be imprisoned for a lifetime with your body being used as a machine for man’s profit? I spent a great deal of time wondering this, and I think that if I had to choose either one, I would rather die sooner than live an unhappy life just to be slaughtered at the end anyways. Is it ethical to use another sentient being for your own profit?
I do not believe people that eat meat are bad people. A lot of my friends and family eat meat and I still believe they are wonderful people. However, almost half of them have begun transitioning towards a more ethical lifestyle and I have noticed that they spread more compassion and love than they did before. The saying “you are what you eat” carries over into every day lifestyle.
“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.” - Paul McCartney
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LINKS-
http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/commentanalysis/animalrights/whatisveganism.aspx
The ethics of veganism and vegetarianism
www.ethicalconsumer.org
What are the ethical and environmental pros and cons of veganism and vegetarianism? A definitive guide from Ethical Consumer Research Association.
http://www.vegansouls.com/ethical-veganism
Ethical Veganism – Not Just About Food, but a Way of Life
www.vegansouls.com
Though many people view veganism through the prism of only dietary choices, ethical veganism is far more than food choices. It is an entire life philosophy that embraces many more factors than just what you eat.
http://www.veganpeace.com/veganism/compassion.htm
Veganism - Compassion - Vegan Peace
www.veganpeace.com
Veganism - Compassion. Talks about the compassion aspect of veganism.
I recently had a stent put in my groin all because of my bad diet and I have been trying to change my diet off of meat. This really helped me think about my options. Thank you very much for a very informative post.
ReplyDelete"A lot of my friends and family eat meat and I still believe they are wonderful people" - wonderful people fall into bad behaviors almost as often as bad people do, if they don't think about it and have never been presented an alternative.
ReplyDeleteSir Paul was right. (And Linda gets credit for opening his eyes.)
Both meats and plants have been a part of mankind's life since the beginning of their existence. However, the key difference is the way we obtain our meat nowadays. Back then you would hunt the animal down and truly earn your right to eat it, but now you just go to the grocery store and it's right there for you. What I don't agree with at all is how the animals are treated in order for us to just have some meat. If humans can't imagine other humans going through what these poor animals go through, then why do they think that what happens to them is okay? It's sad to see what money can do to humans and this is only one of the negative effects. However, I don't believe that veganism is the answer to this problem because yes, you aren't eating that meat anymore, but you are also not doing anything to stop the problem you are just avoiding it.
ReplyDelete