Philosophy
Arguments for veganism from multiple philosophical perspectives. I try to be inclusive of different ethical approaches here. Inclusion does not imply endorsement, in whole or in part. Peter Singer can go fuck himself though.
Some refutations to common anti-vegan arguments can be found at this guide by Vegan Sidekick and at Your Vegan Fallacy Is.
I am transferring some of this information to a different page.
Why should I care about animals?
In Favor of Animal Consciousness - Donald R. Griffin, Animal Minds: Beyond Cognition to Consciousness (2001)
Many animals adapt their behavior to the challenges of their situation. This ability to be versatile is evidence of cognition.
Just as consciousness varies widely between humans, consciousness between species probably varies widely too.
Animals, like humans, are probably aware of only a small fraction of what happens in their brains, but the consciousness that exists is nonetheless important.
This conscious thinking and emotional feeling are core functions of the central nervous system and the best ways for animals to cope with challenges.
The line between perceptual consciousness (consciously thinking about something) and reflective consciousness (introspection) is too blurry to clearly ascribe or deny either to animals.
Animals have subjective feelings and emotions that should be included in cognitive ethology. It should not be limited to nonconscious information processing or non-emotional thoughts.
Which animals matter?
Why we should give moral consideration to individuals rather than species - Animal Ethics (last accessed July 15, 2023)
"A species is an abstract entity that cannot have experiences and therefore cannot be wronged in the way that sentient individuals can."
Ecological interventions that prioritize species entail harm toward sentient individuals.
Human interests in biodiversity (aesthetic, scientific, cultural, etc.) should not take precedence over individual nonhuman animal interests.
Prioritizing ecosystems implies that species that perform certain ecological functions have moral precedence over those that do not; this harms sentient individuals.
Why we should give moral consideration to sentient beings rather than ecosystems - Animal Ethics (last accessed July 15, 2023)
Sentient individuals can have positive and negative experiences, but ecosystems cannot.
Advocates of this ecosystem-centered view consider the stability of the ecosystem valuable in itself.
Preserving this stability harms sentient individuals (i.e., the destruction of "invasive species").
Most who center ecosystems do not consider applying their own solutions to humans; they almost always favor human interests, which reveals their anthropocentrism.
Ecosystems are changing all the time and are not "stable," so there is nothing truly concrete enough to preserve.
It is better to intervene for the sake of sentient beings rather than for conservationist or other anthropocentric motivations.
What's wrong with how we treat animals?
A "humanely" killed animal is still killed - and that's wrong - Anna E. Charlton and Gary L. Francione, Aeon (September 8, 2017)
Conventional Western thinking about animal ethics - that killing an animal is OK if it's done "humanely" - is incorrect.
Animal sentience is not a characteristic evolved to serve an end in itself, but as a means to the end of continued existence.
Even if animals live in an "eternal present," that does not mean they lack self-awareness or an interest in continuing to live.
Because animals are sentient beings with a desire to continue living, death harms them, and it is therefore wrong to kill them.
We must not own animals - Gary L. Francione, Aeon (March 1, 2022)
Most or all of our use of animals us unnecessary.
The concepts of "humane treatment" and "necessary suffering" are morally meaningless as long as animals are property. Regulations built on these concepts provide little protection to animals.
Animals have sentience and a morally significant interest in continuing to live; how long they wish to live is irrelevant.
Peter Singer can go fuck himself.
But aren't vegan diets bad for you?
It is widely accepted that well-planned vegan diets are healthy for all stages of life. Healthy vegan diets are affirmed by many organizations like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the British Dietitic Foundation, the British Nutrition Foundation, Harvard Medical School, and the NHS.
Why don't you cite Peter Singer?
Content warning: ableism (including eugenics)
Fact Sheet on Peter Singer - Drake Stephen and Diane Coleman, Independent Living Institute (1999)
Peter Singer and Eugenics - Institute for Social Ecology (last accessed July 16, 2023)
Peter Singer and the Ethics of Eugenics - Pamela J. Hobart, Prindle Post (March 27, 2017)
What I learned about disability and infanticide from Peter Singer - Katie Booth, Aeon (January 10, 2018)
Read more
Animal Ethics - last accessed July 15, 2023
Animal Liberation Archive - last accessed July 15, 2023
The Animal Rights Library - edited by Pablo Stafforini (last accessed July 15, 2023)
Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach - Gary L. Francione (last accessed July 15, 2023)
Speciesism: The Movie - Mark Devries (September 18, 2013)