Reading Reflection -- Engel and the Values of Vegetarianism

 Today for class, we read three pieces by Regan, Singer and Engel that each made compelling cases against eating meat, arguing that a non-meat diet is the most ethical choice. The approaches to this argues from an ethics-standpoint varied. Regan made a case utilizing egalitarianism and framed the debate in relation to speciesism and the fundamental wrong of viewing animals purely as resources. Singer’s argument is based on a principle of equal consideration of interests, arguing that animals’ interests should be considered equally to that of humans. Engel, whose case stand out to me the most, compellingly presents his arguments through a sequence of virtues and personal values that he believes most people have, and proceeds to demonstrate how eliminating meat is the way to live out these virtues. 

What was particularly compelling to me was that Engel emphasized his belief that many people possess the morals that underpin eliminating meat, but do not put them into practice. As a vegetarian who has no interest in forcing my approach to meat consumption onto others, my primary reason for being vegetarian is that my personal ethics do not align with eating meat and supporting the meal industry with my money. However, Engel was convincing in that he clarified that many fundamental values associated with resisting the meat industry, such as reducing harm and suffering and making the world a better place, are held by many people. Engel’s argument made me reflect deeply on why people with these values still opt to eat meat, which encouraged me to reflect on attempted invisibility as a pillar of the meat industry. I believe that the industry chooses not to flaunt the conditions due to an understanding that seeing it directly will encourage more consumers to opt out of supporting the industry, which I believe Engel synthesizes excellently by getting at that the industry does oppose fundamental values that many have.