Rachels, Davis, and Vegetarianism
James Rachels decided to become a vegetarian after being convinced by Peter Singer that there needs to be a shift in the way we treat animals. Rachels’ argument for vegetarianism is not an ethical argument, nor an appeal to rights, and although it is utilitarian, it is not based solely on utilitarianism (p. 260-261). He states that it instead “appeals to a simple principle that every decent person already accepts, regardless of his or her stand on other issues” (p. 261). This principle is that, “it is wrong to cause pain unless there is a good enough reason,” an idea that was originally put forth by Singer (p. 260). Rachels specifies that “justification is required,” because sometimes it is not always wrong to cause pain (p. 260). For example, Rachels says that the dentist causes him pain, but it is good for him, and he consents to it. Moreover, the doctor causes his children pain when he gives them shots, but it is good for them, and they did not consent. Rachels finds both acceptable (p.260). However, he does not feel that we have a substantial reason for inflicting pain on our production animals because we merely enjoy the way meat tastes (p.261-262). Rachels feels that the modern meat production causes the animals to suffer terribly, citing reports from a …show more content…
2) Ethical vegetarianism is classist and unrealistic because it assumes that everyone lives in an industrialized country that can support such agricultural production practices and that everyone can afford to eat a fully vegetarian diet. 3) The proposition to supplement women and children “exacerbate rather than resolve the problem of unfairness” (p.
James Rachels decided to become a vegetarian after being convinced by Peter Singer that there needs to be a shift in the way we treat animals. Rachels’ argument for vegetarianism is not an ethical argument, nor an appeal to rights, and although it is utilitarian, it is not based solely on utilitarianism (p. 260-261). He states that it instead “appeals to a simple principle that every decent person already accepts, regardless of his or her stand on other issues” (p. 261). This principle is that, “it is wrong to cause pain unless there is a good enough reason,” an idea that was originally put forth by Singer (p. 260). Rachels specifies that “justification is required,” because sometimes it is not always wrong to cause pain (p. 260). For example, Rachels says that the dentist causes him pain, but it is good for him, and he consents to it. Moreover, the doctor causes his children pain when he gives them shots, but it is good for them, and they did not consent. Rachels finds both acceptable (p.260). However, he does not feel that we have a substantial reason for inflicting pain on our production animals because we merely enjoy the way meat tastes (p.261-262). Rachels feels that the modern meat production causes the animals to suffer terribly, citing reports from a …show more content…
2) Ethical vegetarianism is classist and unrealistic because it assumes that everyone lives in an industrialized country that can support such agricultural production practices and that everyone can afford to eat a fully vegetarian diet. 3) The proposition to supplement women and children “exacerbate rather than resolve the problem of unfairness” (p.