Veganism: Philosophy, Ethics, and Environmental Impact

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of veganism, exploring its philosophical underpinnings, ethical considerations, and impact on both personal health and the environment. The essay defines veganism as the practice of abstaining from all animal products and delves into the core arguments for adopting this lifestyle, emphasizing the rejection of animal commodification. It examines the health benefits associated with a plant-based diet, such as a reduced risk of chronic diseases and weight management. The essay also highlights the importance of environmental sustainability and how veganism aligns with this goal, particularly through the lens of the Precautionary Principle. The discussion covers the impact of animal agriculture on pollution, resource depletion, and animal welfare. The essay concludes by emphasizing veganism as a holistic approach to promoting a healthier lifestyle and a more sustainable environment, advocating for the adoption of plant-based diets to positively influence both individual well-being and ecological balance. The essay references several sources to support its claims and provide a comprehensive understanding of veganism.

Running head: VEGANISM
Veganism
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author

2
VEGANISM
Veganism is referred to as the practice of restraining from consuming or using any animal
product. The rejection of the same can be done from diet or usage of any product which involves
manufacturing of the same from animals. The philosophy is primarily based on the idea of
rejecting commodification of animals for human consumption. A person who is a follower of the
diet and lives by the philosophy is called a vegan. (Bruers, 2015) A person who practices
veganism absence from consuming dairy products, meats, eggs any substance which is derived
from animals. Another idea which is often associated and is related to veganism is environmental
veganism which advocates the very idea of sustainable ecology and rejection of practices which
are environmentally damaging.
Even though it is important to consume the necessary food items in order to survive and
live healthy. People are told since their childhood, how much it is essential to consume animal
products such as eggs, meat and so on. While it is emphasized more on food habits containing
animal products, fruits and vegetables are often less regarded in diets. It is, thus, asserted that
nutrients from plants are not adequate to live healthy and be alive. However it has been found
through several researches that diets which contain intake of meat in large quantity main yield to
harmful effects on the health. It has also been found out in several instances that consumption of
meat products large quantity while not consuming enough foods which are plant based may lead
to chronic diseases.
Veganism, is thus, a lifestyle which is adopted by people rejecting the idea of animal
cruelty and ethically considering the choices which are made in the name of survival. Veganism
is chosen not only for diminishing the chances of negative effect on health but also to move
towards environmental sustainability. Therefore, Veganism is about conservation of environment

3
VEGANISM
by making effective choices about one's lifestyle and food habits. Veganism can be understood
more effectively with the help of the Precautionary Principle. It is a very important idea which
states that there must be consideration of the dangers which might be possible because of human
activities (Fischer, 2016). The principle is based on the ideas and actions to prevent health and
environmental risks. It is about the practices and actions which people might engage in to reduce
the negative effects. Consumption of animals are substances which are derived from animals
cause significant effects on the environment which can be avoided by taking precautionary
measures (Steel, 2016). The possible outcomes are not really known to people, which must be
kept in mind while indulging in such activities which also include intake and usage of animal
products.
The precautionary principle by Bob Fischer, thus points about a very important element
of consideration and practice of preventive measures in order to minimize the risks to a level of
being controllable (Fischer, 2016). Therefore, it states that these activities which are human
induced and nothing but catalytic to cause harm to nature, health and environment. Not
everything comes with the scientific consensus about the causes and outcomes but it is very
important to keep in mind about the uncertainties and plausible consequences. Modern
technology, science and innovation have given way to process food items which include plants
as well as animals. With the help of chemical and mechanical agricultural processes, people are
able to modify food requirement, crops animal breeds too. The easiest way in which food is often
processed and preserved is by refrigeration. Hence, with the help of these processes, people are
able to include more quantity of animal products in their diets. This is often the primary reason
behind saturation of excess protein and fats. However, there has also been adoption of vegan diet
by excluding animal products and meats from their meals. There are several nutritionists and

4
VEGANISM
researchers who have claimed about the benefits which are associated with Veganism alongside
the risks (Hooley & Nobis, 2015). However, it is ambiguous and uncertain to know the precise
outcome. It is exactly here that the Precautionary Principle becomes important to develop a
better understanding about the choices which directly or indirectly effect have and environment.
It is very necessary to pay attention to these in order to achieve sustainability and maintain
ecological health.
Veganism is, therefore not just a diet followed by people but a better lifestyle to
positively contribute to the betterment and sustainability of the environment (Gruen & Jones,
2015). The practice of the same among people have increased even more as many many
researchers and scientists have found out about the negative effects which were caused due to
consumption of animal products.
It has been found out that people who practice vegan diet are less prone to develop
chronic diseases as compared to people with diets consisting of animal products. Practicing a
vegan diet has its own benefits which also include precautionary measures against dreadful
diseases like cancer. A person who practices vegan diet is more likely to have richer nutrients as
compared to animal products. By eliminating food items such as meat and other dairy products, a
vegan will be able to add more vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and beans which will add more
beneficial nutrients to the body. These food items which are included in a vegan diet as they
essential elements such as antioxidants, more fiber and other mineral nutrients (Gruen & Jones,
2015). Consumption of excess meat products is one of the most common reason behind
excessive weight among people. Vegan diets are very effective to reduce body fat and maintain a
balanced plant based diet. Plant based food products tend to eliminate chances of accumulation

5
VEGANISM
of fat and body mass. Therefore, a person with excess weight or the condition of obesity may
choose to follow a vegan diet to lose weight and practice a healthier lifestyle.
Human consumption and usage is the primary and foremost reason behind animal cruelty
and commodification of animals. Eating, hunting, trapping, rearing are practices with which
animal lives are exploited for human satisfaction, which leave great impact on the environment
and its sustainability. The dairy and meat industry contributed hugely to causes such as pollution,
food shortages, extinction and so on. The Eco system gets effected because of such practices as
there are constant attempt to meet the needs of people to cherish their expectations which sadly
revolve around consumption and commodification of animals (McPherson, 2014). These could
be addressed by people by switching themselves to the practice and philosophy of Veganism and
protect the environment from hazards and negative consequences. Becoming a vegan is one of
the most effective way to achieve sustainability and maintain ecological health.
The Vegan diet thus have environmental as well as health benefits. The considerations
are to be made based on ethics which will help in attaining better health outcomes. Not only does
plat based food have more nutritional value but also that animal lives can be saved by making
positive changes to the society and environment (Hooley & Nobis, 2015). When animals are
turned into food, it is only harmful for the animal kingdom as an exploitative force, but also for
the environment and ecological balance. It is morally unjustifiable to why should animals be
reared for human consumption. The factory farming has become an extremely exploitative force
which is not only inhumane but also leave significant effects on the environment.
The amount of negative effect or the consequences which might arise from having or
using animal products are not entirely known. Scientific discoveries have advancements have
stretched horizons giving way to new possibilities yet not entirety is known about the effects of

6
VEGANISM
over consumption of animal products, flesh and meat in the diet as the only supplement for
protein and other components as required by the body. The Precautionary Principle lays bare the
idea that there can be harmful consequences too, for which people must be aware and act
accordingly to prevent the environment as well as personal health for negative outcomes.
Therefore, it can be said that the Principle is a seminal idea which can be made use of to
understand the benefits which can be achieved with the help of Veganism. By rejecting
consumption or commodification of animals to satiate human needs might yield to positive
researches as it has been proven with the help of many researches that Vegan diets re effective to
rule out chances of dreadful disease such as cancer, ecological imbalance and several other
negative outcomes.

7
VEGANISM
References
Bruers, S. (2015). The core argument for veganism. Philosophia, 43(2), 271-290.
Fischer, B. (2016). Bugging the strict vegan. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental
Ethics, 29(2), 255-263.
Gruen, L., & Jones, R. C. (2015). Veganism as an Aspiration. The moral complexities of eating
meat, 153-71.
Hooley, D., & Nobis, N. (2015). A moral argument for veganism. In Philosophy comes to
dinner (pp. 102-118). Routledge.
McPherson, T. (2014). A Case for Ethical Veganism: Intuitive and methodological
considerations. Journal of Moral Philosophy, 11(6), 677-703.
Steel, D. (2015). Philosophy and the precautionary principle. Cambridge University Press.