Do you base all your behavior on what other animals do? Many people insist that it’s natural to eat animals because other animals eat animals. It is, they insist, therefore morally neutral. However, there is rarely anything natural about humans consuming animals. We’re not doing what other animals do in nature. First, the vast majority of […]

Can a choice be personal if it has a victim? Justice is the concept by which fairness is administered. In democratic societies, justice dictates that we are generally free to do what we want as long as it doesn’t harm, exploit, or infringe upon the same rights and freedoms of others. Truly personal choices include how to […]

Do you really think that humans are apex predators? Justifications for needless violence and oppression are often based on concepts of power and supremacy: the notion that “might makes right.” Unfortunately, the belief that might makes right has justified the worst atrocities of human history. A “food chain” is a human invention that assumes a […]

Isn’t standing up for justice more important than standing up for cultural traditions? Many times, when the topic of veganism or even plant-based diets comes up, even if it’s in the context of mitigating climate change or improving human health or feeding hungry people, otherwise progressive people object, “But we need to be mindful of […]

Do you really think that plants can feel pain? When people’s deeply held beliefs are challenged, they will grasp at the slenderest of straws. Let’s face it: nobody really believes that plants suffer identically to animals. If someone came along with a chain saw and trimmed some tree branches that were growing into your house, […]

Do you think it’s impossible to care about more than one issue at a time? First of all, humans are animals. We are one species among many in the animal kingdom, and we all share the ability to suffer. Humans have qualities that are distinct from other animals, but none of these differences are morally relevant to […]

Do you think there is a humane way to kill someone who does not want to die? People who claim to consume only “humane” animal flesh and secretions are deluding themselves in several ways. First, whether you purchase animal flesh and secretions at a grocery store, or at a restaurant, or if you dine at […]

Do you think cruelty to animals is against the law? You may be surprised to learn that in the United States: There are no federal laws governing the conditions in which farmed animals are raised. The majority of farmed animal suffering is exempt from state anti-cruelty laws. Many state anti-cruelty laws exempt “standard” or “commonly […]

Do you believe that animal agriculture protects against species extinction? You might be surprised to find out that just the opposite is true. The animals that we use as agricultural commodities are genetically manipulated breeds (also known as varieties or races). Animals who never existed in the natural world, who have been artificially bred into existence […]