Veganism
A philosophy and way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals.
Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. By extension, it promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, other animals, and the environment.
The word was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson and the founders of the UK Vegan Society, who drew a line between vegetarianism — which still permits dairy and eggs — and a more thoroughgoing ethic that rejected the use of animals as commodities altogether.
Three interlocking cases
Most contemporary vegans hold some combination of three arguments:
- The ethical case. Sentient beings have interests of their own. Using them as means to our ends — when alternatives exist — is a form of speciesism: arbitrary discrimination by species membership.
- The environmental case. Animal agriculture is a leading driver of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, freshwater use, and biodiversity loss. See Livestock and climate.
- The health case. Whole-food, plant-based diets are associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases.
Veganism vs. plant-based
“Vegan” is an ethical identity; “plant-based” describes a dietary pattern. A person can eat plant-based for health without being vegan; a vegan may, for ethical reasons, avoid leather or wool even though those choices have nothing to do with food.
”As far as possible and practicable”
This clause, written into the 1944 definition, is deliberate. It acknowledges that we live embedded in a non-vegan economy — every road, medicine, and building has some animal-derived history — and asks for practical striving, not moral perfection.