Ethical vegetarianism and carnivorous positions: issues beyond flavor and nutrients

Vegetarianismo ético e posições carnívoras: questões além do sabor e dos nutrientes

Abstract

Political mobilization in defense of "animal rights" proposes the end of all activities that make use of these beings under the justification that animals would be the victims of "exploitation" and "suffering". This form of political action defends vegetarianism / veganism as the only possible ethical path, and brings into question the edibility of meat of animal origin, which plays a central role in the dietary patterns of Western countries. From the performance of animal advocates, we can say that the production and consumption of this food is facing new issues that concern political and ideological aspects around the treatment of animals. In view of this more general discussion, the purpose of this paper is to present how ethical questions in favor of animals confront the system of practices and values regarding animal foods, according to the perceptions of those who did not adhere to a vegetarian diet. The idea, therefore, is to depart from the way that animal advocates establish their discomfort about the consumption of meat, and in dialogue, to think about how people who follow a carnivorous diet re-evaluate the edibility and non-edibility of the products of animal origin. To accomplish this article I employ research conducted with animal rights defenders: fieldwork, interviews and bibliographical review. In addition, 30 informal, online and in person conversations were held with residents of the city of Rio de Janeiro, who have a carnivorous diet.