Meat vs. Vegan
Critical Analysis on “Is it Possible to Be a Conscientious Meat Eater”
Sunaura and Andrew Taylor’s “Is It Possible to Be a Conscientious Meat Eater?” is an informative essay about the dirty side of the meat industry. They speak out of the physical abuse and poor living conditions endured by animals raised solely for the purpose of consumption. Because of the inhumane treatment towards animals, Taylor talks about a vegan solution and the many benefits associated with it. Animal cruelty is a sensitive topic that readers can easily be persuaded to either side. But, for the purpose of this essay, the reader can be swayed towards being a conscientious consumer. As mentioned already, animal rights and veganism will be discussed. It's hard to imagine when drinking a glass of milk or frying some eggs that animals are enduring harsh treatment in the process of getting such products. Taylor makes a valid point when she says “It is impossible to produce eggs and milk without vast amounts of killing” (203, par 3). The author believes that even though animals used for their byproducts are not being slaughtered, they are still being treated inhumanely because of their poor living conditions which lead to many unnecessary deaths. Such living conditions include chickens being tightly compacted with no room to walk and a lack of sunlight and fresh air. According to Taylor, this falls under animal cruelty. By informing the reader of a different manner of animal cruelty, Taylor is able to convince an audience to rethink buying from farms that are inhumane. When talking about “equality”, usually it is in reference to people of race, color, creed etc. Not many people include animals to that equation. Taylor says “Some people argue that equality should only include human beings, for no other reason than for the fact they are human” (202, par 3). Taylor accepts as truth that both animals and humans have much of the same “physiological” and “neurochemical” make up. Even though
Sunaura and Andrew Taylor’s “Is It Possible to Be a Conscientious Meat Eater?” is an informative essay about the dirty side of the meat industry. They speak out of the physical abuse and poor living conditions endured by animals raised solely for the purpose of consumption. Because of the inhumane treatment towards animals, Taylor talks about a vegan solution and the many benefits associated with it. Animal cruelty is a sensitive topic that readers can easily be persuaded to either side. But, for the purpose of this essay, the reader can be swayed towards being a conscientious consumer. As mentioned already, animal rights and veganism will be discussed. It's hard to imagine when drinking a glass of milk or frying some eggs that animals are enduring harsh treatment in the process of getting such products. Taylor makes a valid point when she says “It is impossible to produce eggs and milk without vast amounts of killing” (203, par 3). The author believes that even though animals used for their byproducts are not being slaughtered, they are still being treated inhumanely because of their poor living conditions which lead to many unnecessary deaths. Such living conditions include chickens being tightly compacted with no room to walk and a lack of sunlight and fresh air. According to Taylor, this falls under animal cruelty. By informing the reader of a different manner of animal cruelty, Taylor is able to convince an audience to rethink buying from farms that are inhumane. When talking about “equality”, usually it is in reference to people of race, color, creed etc. Not many people include animals to that equation. Taylor says “Some people argue that equality should only include human beings, for no other reason than for the fact they are human” (202, par 3). Taylor accepts as truth that both animals and humans have much of the same “physiological” and “neurochemical” make up. Even though
Cited: Taylor, Sunaura. Andrew Taylor. “Is it Possible to be a Conscientious Meat Eater?” Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Ed.Sylvan Barnet & Hugo Bedau. 9th ed.Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s, 2011. Print.