Sentientism/Veganism

What is Sentientism? 

Sentientism is a moral philosophy that holds that the well-being and interests of all sentient beings should be the primary consideration in ethical decision-making. Sentient beings are those that have the capacity to experience pleasure or pain, such as humans, animals, and potentially artificial intelligence in the future.

Sentientism posits that sentient beings are morally relevant, regardless of their species or other characteristics, and that we have a moral obligation to minimize the harm and suffering inflicted upon them. This includes not only avoiding direct harm to sentient beings, but also reducing harm that may occur as a result of our actions, such as environmental destruction or climate change.

In addition, sentientism is rooted in the belief that we should rely on evidence, reason, and compassion to make ethical decisions, rather than religious or other supernatural beliefs.

Overall, sentientism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of empathy, rationality, and the recognition of the intrinsic value of all sentient beings in ethical decision-making.


Where does veganism fit into this? 

Veganism can be seen as a practical application of sentientism, as it seeks to reduce the suffering of sentient beings by avoiding the use of animal products in all areas of life, including food, clothing, and other consumer products.

Veganism is based on the recognition that animals, like humans, are sentient beings capable of experiencing pleasure and pain, and thus should be treated with respect and compassion. By abstaining from the use of animal products, vegans aim to reduce the demand for animal exploitation and reduce the harm inflicted on animals.

From a sentientist perspective, veganism can be seen as a logical extension of the moral consideration given to all sentient beings. If we believe that sentient beings deserve moral consideration, it follows that we should avoid causing unnecessary harm to them, which includes not using them as commodities for our own purposes.

Overall, veganism aligns with the principles of sentientism, as both prioritize the well-being and rights of all sentient beings.


Sentientism

Sentientism is an online group with a motto ''Let's try evidence, reason + compassion for all sentient beings'' which hosts multiple podcasts on this topic with experts and is also active on social media. They are a great resource for many related topics. 

Links

Webpage: https://sentientism.info 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sentientism 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMfzOpbOeXRhZBXYRHkpPEg 

Podcast: https://pod.link/1540408008 

Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sentientism/ 

Science was a Founding Principle of the Vegan Movement

By Dr Corey Wrenn 

Science and Ethics of eating meat: Why Meat is the Best Worst Thing in the World?

Meat is a complicated issue. But also a delicious one. Let's hear Kurzgesagt alk about it.

Richard Dawkins on Veganism and animal rights 

Richard Dawkins discusses this issue with Alex O Connor

Reasonable Humans and Animals: An Argument for Vegetarianism

An article by Prof Nathan Nobis, PhD, Professor of philosophy

https://www.nathannobis.com/2016/08/an-argument-for-veganism-from-2005-or.html?m=1 

Is meat really that bad? 

Another excellent video by Kurzgesagt. 

Every Argument Against Veganism | Ed Winters | TEDxBathUniversity

Can you keep eating meat after hearing this? Earthling Ed a vegan educator debunks every argument against veganism.  Earthling Ed is well known for his rational arguments around veganism, brilliant articulation of nuances and patience to discuss even with the not-so-nice debater. 

Ed Winters is a vegan educator, public speaker and content creator based in London, England. 

Plant Vs Cow's Milk!

For plant milk manufacturers, business is booming. In 2021, 32% of British people surveyed drank plant-based milk as part of their diet, compared to 25% in 2020. How are these milks made, and how do they compare to cow’s milk when it comes to their environmental impact and nutritional value? This graphic takes a look.

https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/01/11/plant-milk/ 

Can Humanists and Atheists Break Free From Human Supremacism?

By Jamie Woodhouse 

"Sentientism, humanism and atheism (generally speaking) share a naturalistic worldview that uses evidence and reason to ground our beliefs and credences. While many humanists and atheists do already share Sentientism’s “compassion for all sentient beings” and seem more likely to put that into practice than the general population – it’s fair to say that the centres of gravity of these movements remain firmly anthropocentric – even human supremacist"

Full article: https://sentientism.info/can-humanists-and-atheists-break-free-from-human-supremacism  

Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets 

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases"

Full text: https://www.jandonline.org/article/S0002-8223(09)00700-7/fulltext 

British Dietetic Association confirms well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages

Plant-based diets & their impact on health, sustainability and the environment 

A review of the evidence by WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases

The Role of Scientists in the Debate About Animal Welfare

Scientists tend to stay away from political and ethical debates – but more and more political and ethical questions depend on scientific knowledge. Yuval Noah Harari discusses questions they raise.

Non-Human Animals: Crash Course Philosophy

Crash Course talks all the things they have learned this year about doing philosophy and applying that to moral considerations regarding non-human animals. They explore what philosophers like Peter Singer and Carl Cohen have to say about their use, including the concept of equal consideration of interests.

If the world adopted a plant-based diet we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares

If everyone shifted to a plant-based diet we would reduce global land use for agriculture by 75%. This large reduction of agricultural land use would be possible thanks to a reduction in land used for grazing and a smaller need for land to grow crops: https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-dietsÂ