Q&A: Modern Vegetarianism
Modern Vegetarianism
Question
Rabbi, in your opinion is there a philosophical-ethical explanation (and not a material-historical one) for the emergence of vegetarianism in recent decades? I’m not knowledgeable enough, but why, for example, does Kant not preach vegetarianism? Of course, you could ask this about any phenomenon in modern humanism; it’s just that for present purposes, this is a topic on which both of us agree that the change is positive. Thanks
Answer
When Kant speaks about the categorical imperative, he is speaking about what is good for humanity as a whole, not for the universe as a whole. Eco-ethics is a modern invention (google it).
Beyond that, today there is industrial production, and therefore raising animals by definition involves severe suffering and abuse. In the past, each breeder would do things his own way.
And of course there is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. When our breadbasket is full, we have the mental availability to concern ourselves with the needs of animals and with moral scruples.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t think so
The question itself is not historical, but rather why Kant did not deal with eco-ethics. Is that a principled position, or is it dependent on reality and on how the discourse is constructed? The argument about industrial production and the hierarchy of needs, as far as I understand, is a material-historical argument. Is there actually a different philosophical position in modern/postmodern thought, rather than this being incidental?