veganism: Veganism 101: An Introduction Flashcards
This deck parallels the briefing at vbriefings.org/veganism
About this Deck: “Veganism 101: An Introduction”.
This Deck parallels the briefing at: vbriefings.org/veganism.
—There are no formal citations here, although sources may be mentioned. Full citations with links are provided in the briefing.
—It would be best to read the briefing before studying these cards. Reading the briefing first provides understanding and context.
What is the briefing titled “Veganism 101: An Introduction” about?
This briefing provides an overview of veganism, the history of vegan thinking, and reasons to consider veganism.
Provide a high-level summary of veganism in 4 sentences.
- In short, veganism is a lifestyle focused on minimizing harm to animals, rooted in ethics while also addressing health and environmental concerns.
- The movement by name began in 1944, but its principles trace back to figures like Pythagoras and Gandhi.
- Major health organizations endorse vegan diets for their nutritional and disease-mitigating benefits, while research shows they are the most sustainable choice, reducing the environmental destruction caused by animal agriculture.
- By confronting systemic animal suffering and advocating for animal rights, veganism aligns with social justice and ethical frameworks, offering a clear and compassionate way forward.
Give a simple definition of veganism, with scope, in two sentences.
- Veganism is a way of living that seeks to minimize harm to animals.
- Veganism is primarily an ethical movement, but it intersects with concerns for human health, the environment, and social justice issues.
Give a two-sentence summary of the historical aspect of veganism.
- Historical figures practiced the ideals of veganism long before Donald Watson coined the word “vegan” in 1944.
- Such figures include Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Leo Tolstoy, George Bernard Shaw, Mahatma Gandhi, and others.
Give a one-sentence summary of the human health aspect of veganism.
Leading dietetic associations of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia—as well as major medical institutions, such as Harvard Public Health, Mayo Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic—have all stated that a vegan diet is not only sufficient but also promotes health andhelps prevent chronic disease.
Name five of the diseases or conditions mentioned by major health organizations for which a vegan diet can be beneficial.
—heart disease
—diabetes
—high blood pressure
—obesity
—high cholesterol.
Give a one-sentence summary of the environmental aspect of veganism.
Studies show that vegan diets have the smallest environmental footprint, and it’s widely agreed that animal agriculture is extremely destructive and contributes heavily to global warming, habitat destruction, deforestation, water waste, water and air pollution, biodiversity loss, desertification, ocean dead zones, and fecal contamination.
Give a one-sentence summary of the environmental aspect of veganism.
Studies show that vegan diets have the smallest environmental footprint, and it’s widely agreed that animal agriculture is extremely destructive and contributes heavily to global warming, habitat destruction, deforestation, water waste, water and air pollution, biodiversity loss, desertification, ocean dead zones, and fecal contamination.
Give a two-sentence summary of the animal injustices aspect of veganism.
- Despite humane-sounding labels and certifications, farmed animals suffer many abuses before they are violently slaughtered while still young.
- These abuses include horrid living conditions, painful mutilations, denial of their natural behaviors, debilitating selective breeding, reproductive violations, cruel handling, and violent, painful slaughter.
What are two ways that veganism is a social justice movement?
- Veganism has been a social justice movement from the start, recognizing that all forms of oppression are related, whether inflicted on humans or other animals.
- But veganism is also a social justice movement in another sense: it challenges an industry—animal agriculture—that disproportionately harms poor and marginalized people.
Give a one-sentence summary of how four ethical frameworks relate to veganism.
The deontological rights-based approach, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and the ethics of care, when followed to their logical conclusion, all support veganism.
Give the one-sentence, three-part, final summary in the briefing on veganism.
Finally,
1) the case for veganism is simple,
2) the objections to veganism are weak, and
3) getting started may be easier than you think.
What could you say to put veganism in its larger context, in three sentences?
- As veganism grows globally, it challenges existing systems and paves the way for change across society.
- Through the lens of veganism, we can reimagine our relationship with the planet and its inhabitants—and align our actions with the values we hold dear.
- This is especially important in a world that’s growing increasingly aware of not only the injustices we inflict on animals but also the climate change and resource scarcity we inflict on the planet.
What are the eight key points presented in the briefing?
- Veganism is a way of living that has a rich and ongoing history.
- Animal exploitation is unjust and causes egregious suffering on a massive scale.
- Vegan diets can be healthy and protect against chronic disease.
- Animal agriculture destroys the environment.
- Veganism is a social justice movement.
- Philosophical frameworks support ethical veganism.
- The case for veganism is simple.
- Getting started may be easier than you think.
What is proto-veganism?
We refer to proto-veganism as the early historical or cultural practices, philosophies, or diets that resemble or anticipate modern veganism, even if they predate the formal term “vegan.”
What is the first key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Veganism is a way of living that has a rich and ongoing history.
How might proto-veganism be summarized in three sentences?
- The word “vegan” may be relatively new, but the idea isn’t.
- Veganism is just one point on a historical continuum of human concern for other animals.
- Long before factory farming, and long before the word “vegan,” prominent historical figures saw that exploiting animals requires animal suffering, and they embodied vegan ethics in their writings and actions.
Name six proto-vegans and the years they lived.
- Pythagoras (570–495 BCE)
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)
- Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)
- George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)
What should you know about Pythagoras’ (570–495 BCE) accomplishments, beliefs, and followers?
Accomplishments: Pythagoras, an influential Greek philosopher and mathematician, invented the word “philosophy,” first called the universe the “cosmos,” and first used the word “theory” the way it’s used.He’s perhaps best known for the Pythagorean Theorem.
Beliefs: Pythagoras believed humans and animals have a special kinship. He refused to eat animals not because of their intelligence but because of their capacity to feel pleasure and pain.
Followers: Pythagoras had followers known as Pythagoreans. Until the 19th century, when the word “vegetarian” came into use, the Pythagorean Diet meant what “vegetarian” means now.
Name five of Pythagoras’ accomplishments.
- influential Greek philosopher and mathematician
- invented the word “philosophy,”
- first called the universe the “cosmos,”
- first used the word “theory” the way it’s used.
- perhaps best known for the Pythagorean Theorem.
What did Pythagoras believe about the relationship between humans and animals, and why did he refuse to eat animals?
Pythagoras believed humans and animals have a special kinship.
He refused to eat animals not because of their intelligence but because of their capacity to feel pleasure and pain.
Who were the Pythagoreans, and what was the Pythagorean diet?
Pythagoras had followers known as Pythagoreans.
Until the 19th century, when the word “vegetarian” came into use, the Pythagorean diet meant what “vegetarian” means now.
What five things does the briefing on veganism say about Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)?
- Leonardo da Vinci was a quintessential Renaissance polymath, renowned for his mastery of art, science, engineering, and painting. Da Vinci was ahead of his time, not only in designing bicycles, airplanes, and helicopters but also in his attitude toward animals.
- According to one biographer, he was “a man imbued with an uncommon compassion for all living things.”
- Leonardo da Vinci said he would not let his body become “a tomb for other animals, an inn of the dead…”
- He loved animals, refused to eat them, and abhorred the thought of hurting them.
- In the open markets of Florence, Leonardo da Vinci frequently bought caged birds just to release them, giving back their freedom.
Say three things about Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452–1519) accomplishments.
- Leonardo da Vinci was a quintessential Renaissance polymath
- renowned for his mastery of art, science, engineering and painting
- Da Vinci was ahead of his time, not only in designing bicycles, airplanes, and helicopters but also in his attitude toward animals.
What was Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) imbued with?
According to one biographer, he was “a man imbued with an uncommon compassion for all living things.”
What did Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) say about his body?
Leonardo da Vinci said he would not let his body become “a tomb for other animals, an inn of the dead…”
What was Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452–1519) relationship to animals?
He loved animals, refused to eat them, and abhorred the thought of hurting them.
What would Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) frequently do and where would he do it?
In the open markets of Florence, Leonardo da Vinci frequently bought caged birds just to release them, giving back their freedom.
What five things does the briefing on veganism say about Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)?
- Shelley was a major English Romantic poet known for his lyrical poetry.
- His works, including “Ozymandias,” “Prometheus Unbound,” and “To a Skylark,” reflect his passion for political and social reform, as well as exploring nature and the human condition.
- Shelley’s idealism and imaginative style helped shape future literary movements.
- Shelley, who one biographer calls the first celebrity vegan, regretted that “beings capable of the gentlest and most admirable sympathies, should take delight in the death-pangs and last convulsions of dying animals.”
- He wrote a book, A Vindication of Natural Diet, which uses comparative anatomy to show that vegetable diets suit humans best.
What did one biographer call Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)?
The first celebrity vegan.
What did Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) regret?
He regretted that “beings capable of the gentlest and most admirable sympathies, should take delight in the death-pangs and last convulsions of dying animals.”
Tell me a little about Shelley’s (1792–1822) works and what they expressed.
Shelley was a major English Romantic poet known for his lyrical poetry.
His works, including “Ozymandias,” “Prometheus Unbound,” and “To a Skylark,” reflect his passion for political and social reform, as well as exploring nature and the human condition.
Shelley’s idealism and imaginative style helped shape future literary movements.
He wrote a book, A Vindication of Natural Diet, which uses comparative anatomy to show that vegetable diets suit humans best.
What does the briefing on veganism say about Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)?
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and social reformer, best known for his epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which explore complex themes of history, morality, and the human experience.
He is a leading figure in realist literature and one of the most important literary and philosophical minds of the 19th century.
Tolstoy wrote a book titled The First Step: An Essay on the Morals of Diet, which called abstaining from animal foods the first step toward moral perfection.
He says using animal foods “is simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to the moral feeling—killing; and is called forth only by greediness and the desire for tasty food.
He also condemns self-delusion, saying, “we are not ostriches, and cannot believe that if we refuse to look at what we do not wish to see it will not exist.”
Tell me about Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) and his literature.
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and social reformer, best known for his epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which explore complex themes of history, morality, and the human experience.
He is a leading figure in realist literature and one of the most important literary and philosophical minds of the 19th century.
Tell me about Leo Tolstoy’s (1828–1910) connection to proto-veganism.
Tolstoy wrote a book titled The First Step: An Essay on the Morals of Diet, which called abstaining from animal foods the first step toward moral perfection.
He says using animal foods “is simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to the moral feeling—killing; and is called forth only by greediness and the desire for tasty food.
He also condemns self-delusion, saying, “we are not ostriches, and cannot believe that if we refuse to look at what we do not wish to see it will not exist.”
What does the briefing on veganism say about George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)?
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright, critic, and polemic, renowned for his sharp wit and social commentary.
His plays, such as Pygmalion, tackle issues such as class, feminism, and religion.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.
Shaw was one of many to connect animal slaughter to the lack of world peace, saying, “While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth?”
Shaw is credited with the famous quote, “Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.”
Who was George Bernard Shaw’s (1856–1950)
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright, critic, and polemic, renowned for his sharp wit and social commentary.
His plays, such as Pygmalion, tackle issues such as class, feminism, and religion.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.
Tell me a little about George Bernard Shaw’s (1856–1950) connection to animal ethics.
Shaw was one of many to connect animal slaughter to the lack of world peace, saying, “While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth?”
Shaw is credited with the famous quote, “Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.”
What does the briefing on veganism say about Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)?
Mahatma Gandhi led India’s nonviolent struggle for independence from British rule.
He developed and popularized nonviolent resistance, which inspired civil rights movements worldwide—and leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Gandhi believed “the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.”
As a young law student in London, he made spreading veganism (called “vegetarianism” at the time) his mission, and he carried out that mission by writing essays and giving speeches.
It seems he honed his activism skills by being a voice for animals and then used those skills to change the course of human history.
Who coined the word “vegan,” and when?
Donald Watson coined the word “vegan” in 1944.
How was the word “vegan” formed?
By combining the first three letters and the last two letters of the word “vegetarian.”
Why did Donald Watson believe a new word was needed?
He was unhappy that “vegetarian” had come to include dairy and wanted a term for “non-dairy vegetarian.”
What organization did Donald Watson, with others, found?
The Vegan Society.
When was the first issue of the Vegan Society newsletter published?
November 1944.
What is the Vegan Society’s definition of veganism, as of 1988?
“A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.”
What did Watson predict in the first issue of the Vegan Society newsletter?
That humankind would eventually “view with abhorrence the idea that men once fed on the products of animals’ bodies.”
Is the Vegan Society still active today?
Yes, it is still active. The website is vegansociety.com.
What is the second key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Animal exploitation is unjust and causes egregious suffering on a massive scale.
What are the six subpoints under animal exploitation in the briefing on veganism?
- Slaughter is unjust even if done suddenly and painlessly (which it is not).
- Exploited animals suffer many abuses.
- Farmed animals are slaughtered very young, after living only a fraction of their natural lifespans.
- Humane-sounding labels and certifications are deceptive and largely meaningless.
- The scope of suffering, as indicated by the numbers slaughtered, is beyond imagination.
- The root of the problem is viewing animals as mere things with no inherent worth—that exist only for humans and for maximizing profit.
Why is slaughtering an animal considered unjust, even if done suddenly and painlessly?
Slaughter, even if sudden and painless, is unjust because it deprives an individual of their future experiences, choices, and right to live.
Life has inherent value, and ending it disregards the moral worth of the being, regardless of the method.
The harm of killing goes beyond physical suffering; it is the fundamental injustice of taking away a life that is valued and could have continued.
Why are the deaths caused by meat, dairy, and egg production unnecessary?
Because humans have no nutritional need for meat, dairy, or eggs, the deaths and suffering required for these products are unnecessary.
List some slaughter methods.
Throat slitting, shooting, maceration, electrocution, and gassing.
What are some common living conditions that farm animals endure?
Extreme confinement, standing in waste-filled enclosures, and overcrowding that causes respiratory issues, oxygen deprivation, and disease.
List some painful mutilations commonly performed on farm animals.
Debeaking, dehorning, tail docking, castration, and ear notching.
What are some natural behaviors that farm animals are denied?
Free movement, courtship, sex, roosting, rooting, nurturing and being nurtured, playing, and teaching.
How does selective breeding harm farm animals?
It can cause osteoporosis, broken bones, uterine prolapse, deformities, heart attacks, metabolic diseases, and high mortality rates.
List some reproductive violations farm animals endure.
Semen collection through electro-ejaculation or forced mounting, artificial insemination through invasive procedures, and separation of offspring from their mothers.
How are farm animals handled during transport and confinement?
They are routinely beaten, prodded, thrown, and crammed into crowded spaces, leading to broken bones, suffocation, and severe injuries, pain, fear, and lasting harm.
What happens to “downer” animals who are too weak or injured to stand?
They are often denied veterinary care, beaten, dragged, electrocuted, rammed with forklifts, or simply left to die.
How much of their natural lifespan do farm animals typically live before slaughter?
Animals slaughtered for meat live only 2%–7% of their natural lifespan, laying hens live less than 20% of their natural lifespan, and dairy cows live 30% of their natural lifespan.
What is humane washing?
It is the deceptive portrayal of animal products as ethical while hiding the reality of suffering.
Why are humane labels like “cage-free” and “pasture-raised” largely meaningless?
Investigations found that audits are infrequent, ineffective, and rarely enforced. Even the highest-tier certifications allow for extreme confinement, lack of exercise and socialization, genetic modifications that cause health issues, and routine practices such as separating calves from their mothers and mass-killing male chicks.
Approximately how many land animals are slaughtered for food each year?
Over 70 billion (UN FAO).
How does the number of animals slaughtered each year compare to human history?
The yearly toll exceeds the total number of humans who have ever lived.
What is the root problem in the way farm animals are treated?
Viewing them as mere things with no inherent worth—that exist only for humans and for maximizing profit.
How do industry publications describe pigs and sows?
They depict pigs as factory equipment and one says that sows should “pump out baby pigs like a sausage machine.”
What is the third key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Vegan diets can be healthy and protect against chronic disease.
What are some health benefits of vegan diets?
Vegan diets can be healthy and protect against chronic disease.
Name 5 major health organizations that support plant-based diets.
Mayo Clinic, Harvard Public Health, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
What does Cleveland Clinic say about the disadvantages of a plant-based diet?
Cleveland Clinic said, “There really are no disadvantages to a herbivorous diet!” and “Obtaining proper nutrients from non-animal sources is simple for the modern herbivore.”
What did Kaiser Permanente advise their doctors to do?
Kaiser Permanente advises their doctors to recommend a plant-based diet to their patients, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or obesity.
What is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and how large is it?
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the largest nutrition-focused organization in the world, with over 100,000 credentialed professionals.
What does the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2025 position statement say about vegan diets?
It endorses well-planned vegan diets as healthy and nutritionally adequate for adults and states that “vegan dietary patterns can be recommended by RDNs [Registered Dietitian Nutritionists], when appropriate, for prevention and management of some chronic diseases.”
Which countries’ dietetic associations, besides the U.S., have issued statements similar to the U.S. position on vegan diets?
Canada, England, and Australia.
What does the scientific consensus say about the nutritional need for animal products?
When major health organizations, research institutions, and dietetic associations all say we have no nutritional need for animal products, we’ve reached a scientific consensus.
What is the fourth key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Animal agriculture destroys the environment.
What are the six subpoints under “environment” in the briefing on veganism?
- Scientists agree animal agriculture is a major driver of environmental destruction.
- Vegan diets have the smallest environmental footprint.
- Animal agriculture’s devastation is far-reaching.
- Biomass research puts animal agriculture’s dominance of the planet in perspective.
- Animal agriculture’s environmental harm stems from its inefficiency.
- Reducing animal agriculture is crucial.
What have scientists said about the environmental impact of animal agriculture?
(veganism briefing)
Scientists agree that animal agriculture is a major driver of environmental destruction.
What did the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) say about meat production?
UNEP called meat the “world’s most urgent problem” and said, “our use of animals as a food-production technology has brought us to the verge of catastrophe.”
What did the Worldwatch Institute say about the human appetite for animal flesh?
The Worldwatch Institute that “the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future.”
How did an article in the Georgetown Environmental Law Review describe animal agriculture?
It called animal agriculture the “one industry that is destroying our planet and our ability to thrive on it.”
How does the environmental footprint of a vegan diet compare to a meat-centric diet?
A vegan diet has roughly half the environmental footprint of a meat-centric diet and 60% the footprint of the average American diet (USDA).
What environmental benefits do plant-based diets have compared to meat-rich diets, according to a 2023 study in Nature Food?
Plant-based diets:
—produce 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions
—use ~54% less water
—use ~75% less land.
How much does livestock contribute to global warming?
Estimates vary from 14.5% to 87%, with higher numbers including the lost opportunity cost of carbon sequestration through reforestation.
Besides global warming, what other environmental problems does animal agriculture cause?
—Habitat destruction,
—deforestation
—water waste
—water pollution
—air pollution
—biodiversity loss
—desertification
—ocean dead zones
—fecal contamination.
How much of the Amazon rainforest destruction is caused by animal agriculture?
80% to 90%, according to Yale and the World Bank.
What is the greatest cause of desertification worldwide?
Livestock overgrazing, according to a study published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources.
What human health benefit could result from reduced air pollution due to plant-based diets?
A 2023 study in Nature Communications found that reduced air pollution could save over 200,000 human lives per year.
According to a 2018 biomass study in PNAS, how do farm animals compare to wild animals in total weight?
Of all mammal biomass on Earth, 62% is farm animals, 34% is humans, and 4% is wild animals.
How does the total weight of chickens on farms compare to wild birds?
The total weight of chickens on farms is approximately 2.5 times the total weight of all wild birds. (2018 biomass study in PNAS)
How do humans and livestock compare to wild mammals in biomass?
Humans and livestock combined outweigh wild mammals by about 24 to 1.
Why is animal agriculture inefficient?
Most of the calories farmed animals consume go toward daily living and growing body parts that are not consumed.
How many calories of plant-based feed are required to produce one calorie of animal-based food?
It takes 24 calories of plant-based feed to produce 1 calorie of animal-based food. ((World Resources Institute, “Creating a Sustainable Food Future”)
How much farmland does animal agriculture use compared to its food output?
It uses 83% of global farmland while producing only 18% of the total calories and 37% of the protein calories that humans consume.
What did UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) say about reducing the environmental harm caused by animal agriculture?
UNEP said that “a substantial reduction of [harmful environmental] impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”
What did Sir David Attenborough say about diet change and the planet?
He said, “We must change our diet. The planet can’t support billions of meat-eaters.”
What is the fifth key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Veganism is a social justice movement.
In what two significant ways is veganism a social justice movement?
Veganism is a social justice movement because of how human injustices arise from using animals for food and because of its commonalities with all forms of oppression.
How does animal agriculture contribute to food insecurity?
It’s inefficient and leads to food sequestering and shortages, while veganism helps mitigate global hunger and starvation.
How does climate change, in which animal agriculture plays a significant role, disproportionately affect the poor?
The poor are more vulnerable to natural disasters, crop yield losses, and other tragedies.
What are some of the harms slaughterhouse workers experience?
High rates of injuries, infections, illnesses, and Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress (PITS), a form of PTSD.
What social problems are linked to communities near slaughterhouses?
Higher rates of violent crime, including domestic abuse and rape.
What is one way animal agriculture contributes to environmental injustice in North Carolina, and for how long?
The waste from 9.5 million swine is stored in open-air cesspools and sprayed into fields, where it drifts into nearby poor communities, causing foul odors, asthma attacks, bronchitis, and runny noses and eyes. It has persisted for decades.
Since when has veganism been recognized as a social justice movement?
Since the movement’s beginning in 1944.
What did Donald Watson say in the first issue of The Vegan News about civilization and exploitation?
He said, “We can see quite plainly that our present civilization is built on the exploitation of animals, just as past civilizations were built on the exploitation of slaves…”
What common structures do various forms of oppression share?
They all use power dynamics, social hierarchies, and cultural norms to objectify, dehumanize, hurt, and control.
What have A. Breeze Harper, Carol Adams, and other ecofeminists written about?
They have written extensively on how various forms of oppression are connected.
How did Joaquin Phoenix summarize the connection between different social justice movements in his 2020 Academy Award acceptance speech?
He said, “I see commonality. Whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice. We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender or one species has the right to dominate, control and use and exploit another with impunity.”
What is the sixth key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Philosophical frameworks support ethical veganism.
What four philosophical frame works mentioned in the briefing on veganism all support veganism?
- The Deontological Rights-Based Approach
- Utilitarianism
- Virtue Ethics
- The Ethics of Care
What does Tom Regan argue in The Case for Animal Rights (1983)?
He argues that animals are “subjects of a life” and thus possess inherent value, making animal exploitation morally impermissible, regardless of the circumstances.
According to Tom Regan, what is the highest principle of the philosophy of animal rights?
Justice.
What does Tom Regan say about violating the rights of the few for the benefit of the many?
He says, “We are not to violate the rights of the few so that the many might benefit. Slavery allows this, child labor allows this, all unjust social institutions allow this, but not the philosophy of animal rights, whose highest principle is justice.”
Where on vbriefings.org can you find more information about the rights-based approach?
In our briefing, “The Rights-Based Approach to Animal Ethics” for more on this framework.
What is the core principle of utilitarianism?
The greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Who developed and who later expanded utilitarianism?
Jeremy Bentham developed it, and John Stuart Mill later expanded it.
How does Jeremy Bentham apply utilitarianism to animals?
He asks, “the question is not, can they reason, nor can they talk, but can they suffer?”
How does Peter Singer apply utilitarianism to animal ethics in Animal Liberation (1975)?
He argues that causing animals unnecessary suffering for human benefit is ethically unjustifiable and applies the concept of “equal consideration of interests.”
What does virtue ethics focus and not focus on?
The moral agent’s character rather than specific actions or consequences.
How does Rosalind Hursthouse apply virtue ethics to animal ethics?
She argues that a virtuous person would be compassionate and kind toward animals—and oppose practices that cause suffering.
What is the ethics of care?
A moral framework developed by feminist philosophers like Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings that emphasizes relationships, empathy, and care in moral decision-making.
According to the ethics of care, why is exploiting animals wrong?
It neglects our responsibility to care for and protect vulnerable beings who depend on us.
What is the seventh key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
The case for veganism is simple.
What are the three main reasons given for the case for veganism?
Plant-based diets can be healthy and protect against chronic disease, exploiting animals greatly harms the environment, and animal agriculture causes suffering on a massive scale.
What ethical question is posed regarding veganism?
If you can live a healthy life without the culpability of paying others to breed, mistreat, and violently kill animals, why wouldn’t you?
How does living vegan prevent suffering and slaughter?
It prevents the suffering and slaughter of many innocent lives who would have been born or hatched into a system of violence.
According to an analysis by Animal Charity Evaluators, how many vertebrates can a person spare per year by going vegan?
105 vertebrates.
According to a popular vegan calculator, how many total animals can a person spare per year by going vegan?
Over 300, using different assumptions than the Animal Charity Evaluators’ analysis, including all species.
What is the eighth key point presented in the briefing on veganism?
Getting started may be easier than you think.
What do many vegans say they once believed?
Many vegans once said, “I could never be vegan.”
What resource provides helpful suggestions for going vegan?
The briefing “Getting Started with Going Vegan” at vbriefings.org/getting-started
What is the general form of counterclaims against veganism.
Veganism is invalid because [fill in the blank].
How can you address these counterclaims against veganism?
—The objections to veganism are weak and often based on inadequate research, bad logic, or irrelevant arguments.
—vbriefings.org covers the most common objections to veganism in our growing objections section. More such briefings are on the way.
How is the rising popularity of veganism reflected?
In the rapidly growing number of vegan choices in restaurants, grocery stores, clothing stores, and cosmetics, as well as the proliferation of vegan celebrities, public figures, and professional athletes.
What is happening to veganism in mainstream society?
Veganism is becoming mainstream.
According to Global Data, how much did the number of vegans in the U.S. grow between 2014 and 2017?
It grew five-fold (500%).
How does the briefing on veganism relate to other briefings?
It is the primary core briefing and the foundation of the briefing hierarchy, as many other briefings expand on it.
What should be your role in vegan outreach?
To make it accessible, compelling, and aligned with their values.
How can you show that veganism is about ethics, not just diet?
People often think veganism is just a diet rather than a way of living and a movement to minimize harm. Ask:
—“If we can live without harming animals unnecessarily, why wouldn’t we?”
—“Veganism isn’t about personal purity—it’s about reducing suffering. Does that align with your values?”
Why? This shifts the focus from food choices to ethical responsibility.
How can you make it clear that veganism has a long history?
Many assume veganism is a modern trend, but it has deep historical roots. Ask:
—“Did you know figures like Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, and Gandhi rejected eating animals long before the term ‘vegan’ existed?”
—“‘Vegan’ as a word didn’t appear until 1944—but it’s part of a long tradition of people questioning the ethics of exploiting animals. Why do you think so many great thinkers took this stance?”
Why? This shows that concern for animals isn’t new or extreme—it’s a long-standing moral stance.
How can you highlight that major health institutions support vegan diets?
People worry that vegan diets are nutritionally inadequate, but major health organizations disagree. Ask:
—“Did you know the world’s largest dietetic association, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says a well-planned vegan diet is healthy and protective against some diseases?”
—“If the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Public Health, and the Cleveland Clinic all say plant-based diets promote health and prevent disease, does that change your perception?”
Why? This combats the misconception that veganism is unhealthy or extreme.
How can you connect veganism to environmental sustainability?
Animal agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of environmental destruction. Ask:
—“Did you know the UN called meat ‘the world’s most urgent problem’ due to its environmental impact?”
—“Since animal agriculture contributes at least as much to climate change as the entire transportation sector, how do you think food choices impact the planet?”
Why? This reframes veganism as a solution to environmental crises, not just an individual choice.
How can you expose the reality of animal agriculture?
Many people don’t realize the scale of suffering farmed animals endure. Ask:
—“Are you aware that over 70 billion land animals are slaughtered every year for food—more than the total number of humans who have ever lived?”
—“Labels like ‘cage-free’ and ‘humane-certified’ often mislead consumers—would it surprise you that most of these animals still endure extreme suffering?”
Why? This encourages people to question the humane myth and reconsider their participation.
How can you frame veganism as a social justice issue for humans and other animals?
It challenges all forms of oppression and systems that harm marginalized communities. Ask:
—“Can you see that all forms of oppression are related, whether inflicted on humans or other animals?”
—“Did you know slaughterhouse workers suffer PTSD-like symptoms from killing animals every day?”
—“Factory farms disproportionately pollute poor communities. Does it seem fair that low-income areas suffer from the waste of industrial farms?”
Why? This helps connect veganism to other justice movements, making it more relevant.
How can you show that major ethical philosophies support veganism?
No matter what ethical framework someone follows, it leads to rejecting animal exploitation. Ask:
—“Rights-based ethics say sentient beings deserve respect and the right to live their lives without human oppression. If animals are ‘subjects of a life,’ don’t they deserve the same moral consideration?”
—“Utilitarianism says we should minimize suffering. Since animal agriculture causes immense suffering, doesn’t that mean we should avoid it?”
Why? This forces them to reconcile their beliefs with their food choices.
How can you make it clear that going vegan is easier than ever?
People resist veganism because they assume it’s too hard. Ask:
—“With plant-based options everywhere, do you think going vegan today is harder than it was ten years ago?”
—“If I could show you easy ways to transition, would you be open to trying it for a week?”
Why? This makes veganism feel practical and achievable.
In outreaching for veganism, how can you leave them with a thought-provoking question?
Instead of arguing, leave them with a question that challenges their perspective. Ask:
—“If you can live a healthy life without contributing to suffering, what’s stopping you?”
—“What’s the biggest barrier for you in considering veganism? I’d love to hear your thoughts.”
Why? This keeps the conversation open and encourages self-reflection.
