Vegetarianism, Veganism, Pescetarianism, Flexitarianism. Never before have there been so many ways to define how and what we eat.  But are these choices simply a matter of personal taste, or do they reflect a broader ethical conundrum about what we put in our bodies? Ethicists, animal rights activists, and environmentalists increasingly argue that what we eat constitutes a moral choice.  Consuming animals or animal products is inherently unethical, depriving living, sentient beings from living full, productive, and happy lives.  Choosing to eat meat is not merely a preference, but an ethically dubious choice that ignores the health of the planet and the autonomy of other living things.  The only course is to eliminate animals from our diet entirely.  But others argue that the consumption of meat and animal products is not inherently wrong.  Animals can be raised humanely, and brought to our plates with greater attention to their wellbeing.  Humans have been consuming animal products for millenia, and raising livestock is part of the fabric of our shared history and culture.  Steps must be taken to minimize the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and animals must be treated with respect and care.  But eliminating meat and dairy from our diets altogether is not the solution.

Arguing for the motion is Peter Singer, Australian moral philosopher, currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University specializing in applied ethics, and author of Animal Liberation (1975)

Arguing against the motion is Joel Salatin, Owner of Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia

QUOTES:

PETER SINGER

“We need to start thinking of animals as beings with whom we share the planet and who have their own lives to lead without just being a means to our ends.

JOEL SALATIN

“You cannot eat without killing something. Something always has to die in order for you to eat.”

SOURCES: NBC, CBS

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