The Ethics of Eating Animals

”The Ethics of Eating Animals” explores the reasons consumers chose to eat or restrain from eating meat. Michael Pollan starts off by juxtaposing eating steak and reading a book called Animal Liberation. This book, by Peter Singer, outlines philosophic reasons not to eat meat. Pollan struggles with some of the concepts that Singer has: is an intelligent animal a higher level of being than a mentally handicapped person? Singer raises questions about animal equality. Why are dogs pampered and treated well when pigs, which are just as intelligent, are slaughtered? Are humans really that much different from other animals? Pollan cited an English writer who believed that humans lost their contact with animals, and the respect they once had for the creatures they ate. Now consumers either chose to ignore what happens to the animals they eat or become vegetarian, so Pollan took that step and temporarily stopped eating meat. Pollan documented his experience as a vegetarian, but did not like that his food takes more time to prepare, that he seems to be an inconvenience to others, and that he was missing out on some social aspects of eating. He also wonders to what degree animals suffer before they are slaughtered, or if they have any idea of the fate that awaits them. Temple Grandin told him in great detail what was going to happen to the steer he purchased at the slaughter house, and it did not seem that inhumane, although Grandin did design the system at that plant. Pollan speculated on what would happen to animals if everyone became a vegetarian or a vegan, and it odd to think that the survival of these species depends on humans eating meat because they have been domesticated and breed for those purposes. He thinks that a solution other than turning a blind eye to what happens to meat or not eating it at all is to raise consumer awareness of how meat is produced, so that the animals might get the respect they deserve.
I found Pollan’s experience as a vegetarian interesting, but I do not feel like I am missing out on important cultural aspects. Eating meat is part of many meals, but I still sit at the table with my family on Thanksgiving and eat the other delicious things on the table. As for the ballpark Frank, I really couldn’t think of anything I find less appealing, and I’m not upset for missing out on that. Cooking vegetarian is not necessarily more intensive, but I do enjoy chopping, and a large kitchen knife is definitely my favorite utensil. I was wondering of anyone in the class finds vegetarians inconvenient or has had negative experiences trying to accommodate them. I try to be as unimposing as possible, and I am content to eat anything that doesn’t have meat. After reading this chapter is anyone considering trying vegetarianism? Vegetarianism was the right choice for me, and is the way I respect other living creatures.