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Human Diets and Animal Welfare: the Illogic of the Larder

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Abstract

Few moral arguments have been made against vegetarian diets. One exception is the “Logic of the Larder:” We do animals a favor by purchasing their meat, eggs, and milk, for if we did not purchase these products, fewer animals would exist. This argument fails because many farm animals have lives that are probably not worth living, while others prevent a significant number of wild animals from existing. Even if this were not so, the purchase of animal products uses resources that could otherwise be used to bring a much greater number of animals into existence.

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Author notes

  1. Kai M. A. Chan

    Present address: Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, 710 Roeder Rd #602, Silver Spring, MD, 20912, USA

    Gaverick Matheny

  2. Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, USA

    Kai M. A. Chan

Authors
  1. Gaverick Matheny
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  2. Kai M. A. Chan
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Correspondence to Kai M. A. Chan.

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Matheny, G., Chan, K.M.A. Human Diets and Animal Welfare: the Illogic of the Larder. J Agric Environ Ethics 18, 579–594 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-1805-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-1805-x

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