Category: Something to chew on
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Catering fail—no protein
Here’s a thing that has always been annoying: when so-called chefs can’t figure out protein that is not from an animal source. I blogged about it at Fit Is a Feminist Issue back in 2015. I have just come from two days at an off-site meeting where the catering fell short in this way. Now,…
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Where lies the burden of proof for eating meat?
Philosophers often talk about the “burden of proof.” What it means if you have the burden of proof is that you, not the other person, have the burden of proving that you’re right. In other words you need to provide the arguments and evidence in support of your position. Where the moral permissibility of meat-eating…
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Conference catering: what should the defaults be?
I’m at the International Social Ontology Society Conference in Stockholm this week. The conference provides lunch and breaks. And I’m happy to say that the lunches are all vegan and vegetarian. No meat-based options on the menu. This has become a trend at some conferences I’ve either attended or heard about lately. It’s especially prevalent…
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Meat and the lives of non-human animals
[Content warning: this post engages with a philosophical discussion that defends the killing and eating of non-human animals. Though I ultimately reject these arguments I present and explain them first.] As noted in my blog welcome post, this blog is part of a larger project that includes, among other things, a book-in-progress. As a philosopher,…
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Vegan “meat” products: is more realistic better?
Several years ago, before I’d ever heard of “Beyond,” I sent back a burger I’d ordered in a sports-bar style restaurant because I thought it was a beef burger rather than the veggie burger I’d ordered. It was red inside, and I thought the juice running out of it was blood on my plate. It…
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On labels: “vegan” or “plant-based”?
In recent years, you’ve probably noticed the rise of the term “plant-based.” What’s the difference between “vegan” and “plant-based”? Does it even matter? As a philosopher, I may be more prone to seeking significance in distinctions that others might consider simply a matter of semantics. But in this case, there is a difference in both…
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“Meatless Monday” is two-thirds there, once a week
You’ve probably heard about Meatless Monday, a campaign or, as the Mondays folks call it, “a global movement,” that encourages people to reduce their meat consumption “for their health and the health of the planet.” It’s a great idea and easy to do. It’s true that a plant-based diet has health benefits. This message has…
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Lab-grown meat? I’ll take a veggie burger, please
In recent years you’ve likely encountered reports of lab-grown or cultivated meat. As outlined in the article, “Will I See Lab-Grown Meat in Supermarkets Any Time Soon?” some people consider it a great alternative that addresses any ethical concerns they might have about killing animals for food. And we are one step closer to it…
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Plant-based and synthetic yarns have lots to offer
For lots of us, figuring out our food options when we start trying to make vegan choices is just the beginning. It slowly radiates out from there when it becomes clear just how much our commitment can have an impact on other areas of our lives. I am an enthusiastic knitter, and used to love…
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The amazing sensory worlds of non-human animals
I just finished reading An Immense World by science writer Ed Yong. While it’s not immediately relevant to veganism, being more about animals in the natural world than about farmed animals, but it is worth a read for anyone who cares about animals and wants to learn more about how they experience the world. The…
Vegan Practically 