Non-fic: How to Create a Vegan World, Tobias Leenaert

Question 1

What is EA? What are key ideas?

Answer 1

Effective Altruism movement:

applying scientific research and evidence to reduce suffering

focus on effectiveness

Question 2

What is the ‘double demand’ made by animal activists? In other words an ‘i……….. v…….. world’.

Answer 2

double demand’
– change behaviour
– change attitude

‘intentionally vegan world’

Question 3

Norm Phelps estimate of annual USA farming, post–farming processing and retail sales for animal agriculture economic value?

Answer 3

$2.74 trillion

Question 4

What are the ‘three N’s of justification’?

Eating animals is…

Answer 4

Eating animals is …

– normal
– natural
- necessary

(Melanie Joy)

Question 5

What is the classic study into conformity and social pressure?

Answer 5

Asch 1951 – 4 lines – sole participant declared clearly wrong line identical length based on wrong answers of others in the group

Question 6

Asch concluded that the “tendency to conformity in our society is so strong that reasonably intelligent and well–meaning young people are willing to call…?

Answer 6

… willing to call white black.

Question 7

Most people eat meat because…

Answer 7

… most people eat meat.

Question 8

Why is ‘our cause different?’

Animals are…

Fighting without…

Changing something…

Answer 8

Animals are not people

Fighting without the victims

Changing something ancient

Question 9

Describe the opposite approaches to change (with same intentions) when trying to persuade others in society to become vegan (for example)

Do…… / i……… vs pr……. (or ru…….. pr…….. )

Answer 9

dogmatic / idealistic vs pragmatic (or ruthlessly pragmatic…)

Question 10

What does Leenaert name ‘what we ask people to do’? (in terms of the change we want from them)

Answer 10

The ‘Call to Action’

Question 11

What danger can conflicting views on how to achieve change lead to (idealism / pragmatism spectrum creates)?

Posalanoriti & cotcnfli leading to failure (on cehagn)

Answer 11

Polarisation & conflict leading to failure (no change)

Question 12

What argument does Leenaert make about pragmatism and idealism over time?

Beginning with pragmatism will…

Answer 12

That beginning with pragmatism will (ultimately) lead over time to idealism:

Leenaert believes that insisting on immediate and total veganism can be overwhelming and unrealistic for many people, and that promoting gradual change through reducetarianism and other pragmatic approaches can be more effective in the long run. By encouraging people to reduce their consumption of animal products and supporting vegan alternatives, we can create a demand for more ethical and sustainable food choices.

Over time, as more and more people adopt vegan and plant-based diets, we may see a shift in societal norms and attitudes towards animal welfare. As this shift occurs, the idealistic vision of a vegan world may become more attainable, and we may see increased support for animal rights and environmental sustainability.

Question 13

What is a ‘dirty word’ with regard to change that purists challenge as immoral?

(because you can’t have…)

Clue: it begins with an i and has 4 syllables

Answer 13

incremental (you can’t have ‘no child abuse Mondays’)

Question 14

What might incremental change look like with veganism?

Answer 14

frequency / period / kind (of animals)

Question 15

Why might ‘flexitarians be the key to changing the world’?

Answer 15

Because their numbers are so great that they have the greatest overall impact on reductions of suffering

Question 16

What did Charles Duhigg argue (a single ‘meat free day’ per week would be an example)?

“Sm_ wi_ fuel tr_ ch_ by leveraging ti_ ad_ into pa_ that convince people that bigger achievements are wi_ re_.” (The Power of Habit)

Answer 16

small wins fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince people that bigger achievements are within reach. (The Power of Habit)

Question 17

What key words must our ‘call to action’ be to convince?

Ac……..

Re…….

No.-t……….

Co……e / im…….e

Answer 17

achievable / realistic / non–threatening / conceivable (‘I won’t have to change my whole identity to do this’)

Question 18

What is wrong with asking someone to ‘become a vegan’? (linked to noun)

Answer 18

Requires massive change to identity (you become the noun)

Question 19

What is movement has associations with veganism - potentially problematic / toxic for people?

Answer 19

socialism

Tobias Leenaert compares veganism to socialism because both are often seen as idealistic and utopian movements that are difficult to achieve in practice. Just as socialism advocates for a more equal distribution of wealth and resources, veganism advocates for a world where animals are no longer exploited for human consumption.

Leenaert notes that both veganism and socialism have been met with resistance and skepticism from those who see them as impractical or too extreme. However, he argues that both movements have the potential to create a more just and equitable society, and that pragmatic steps towards these ideals can lead to positive change over time.

Additionally, Leenaert points out that both veganism and socialism are often associated with leftist political ideologies that prioritize social justice and environmental sustainability.

Question 20

What argument about change is potentially very alienating for people?

‘But going vegan is…’

Answer 20

… so easy!’

Question 21

What is potentially effective label for ‘non–ethical’ vegan behaviour?

Answer 21

‘plant–based eating’

Question 22

What uninvestigated belief about moral arguments do many of us hold?

Linked to ‘moral reasoning’ - sequence.

Answer 22

That when humanity made moral progress, change happened first and foremost because people put an ethical case for change and others agreed with it. (moral awakening)

Question 23

Example from human world of change not necessarily values led?

Answer 23

Slavery was impacted by industrial revolution making human labour more expensive that automation.

Question 24

HOW TO CREATE A VEGAN WORLD
TOBIAS LEENAERT

Example of technological change from past not necessarily values led? (w……)

Answer 24

Whaling became less attractive when Gesner developed kerosene – a cleaner alternative to burning whale fat. Led to ban on commercial whaling in most countries.

Question 25

What is the ‘gap’ that’s a problem for the belief that attitudes lead to change?

Kn….. / d…. OR att…… / be…….

Answer 25

attitude–behaviour gap (in ethics based decision making, like food consumption or environmental attitudes or parenting)

Knowing / doing (educational term - for example knowing how to punctuate, but not punctuating)

Question 26

How can Festinger’s theories support discussion? What comes first?

Answer 26

People experience ‘cognitive dissonance’ so change attitudes to match behaviours (in that order because the other way around is more difficult).

Question 27

What is another way of avoiding discomfort when thinking about animals as a meat eater? Di de….. / Af…… ig…….

Answer 27

‘Distancing Devices’ / ‘Affected Ignorance’ detaching from animals emotionally or choosing to avoid thinking about them or their experiences

Question 28

Two classic examples from public health of behaviour leading changes to attitude

Answer 28

seat belts in cars
smoking ban

… came to be universally accepted

Question 29

What parallel from history can we draw in terms of comparing ‘withdrawing moral concern’ from animals and extremes of ‘human to human’ behaviour?

This is a ne……. stage in ge…… .

Answer 29

This is a necessary stage in genocide.

Question 30

What is ‘motivated reasoning’ theory?

Answer 30

The theory that reasoning developed as a way of justifying our choices and behaviour rather than as a way to find the truth.