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Philip E. Devine on the Vegetarian's Dilemma

Animal Ethics

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.

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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. It is doubtful that the best approach to conserving grain is to become a vegetarian.

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Animal Welfare Act Inadequate for Farm Animals

Critter News

As such, most people do not consider the potential abuse that may have taken place to bring their hamburger onto their dinner plate. While a nationwide vegan or vegetarian lifestyle change is highly unlikely, the abuse can be maintained through increased government regulation.

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Industrial Agriculture

Animal Ethics

Think of all the progressives— Michael Moore , for example—who either eat meat or go out of their way to ridicule vegetarians. Moore looks like he has eaten one too many hamburgers.) Animal rights is neither progressive nor conservative. Many progressives care only about human beings.

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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

5, 2009 To the Editor: I ate my last hamburger last night. 4, 2009 To the Editor: I have been a strict vegetarian most of my life, and, as such, I have never lacked reasons—ethical, economic and health-related—to continue this lifestyle. Coli Shows Flaws in Ground Beef Inspection System ” (front page, Oct. 4): Your article about E.

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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

We encourage kids to gently pet baby lambs, cows, chickens and pigs, but we deny them this loving connection when we serve animals for dinner by surreptitiously calling them chops, hamburger, nuggets and bacon. We call ourselves vegetarians. There is no happy ending for even the most humanely raised animal. More and more people do not.

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Prima Facie vs. Ultima Facie Wrongness

Animal Ethics

In his fresh and candid first post (available here ), Jonathan admitted that he is struggling with the issue of ethical vegetarianism. Of course, when hamburgers aren't at stake, most of us think that it would be morally wrong to kill an animal for no good reason. They are alive and well. Is eating meat necessary for optimal health?