Medium Rare Morals: A Moral Justification of Meat Eating

Abstract

This paper presents arguments for, and against, vegetarianism. Arguments offered by Singer, Regan, Kant, and Leahy are some of those considered. This paper investigates the possibility that animals have rights and the idea that people have duties towards animals. The degree to which animals possess sentience and self consciousness and the implications of those qualities are addressed. Whether animals have an interest in their lives is questioned, and the possible ramifications of that interest on vegetarian theories explored. Human superiority, along with superiority's relevance, is evaluated. The conviction that vegetarianism is not a moral necessity permeates the paper.