Ethical Veganism, Virtue Ethics, and the Great Soul

Carlo Alvaro teaches philosophy at New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York and at St. Francis College.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Kant, Animals, and Indirect Moral DutyKant, Marginal Cases, and AnimalsWhat’s Wrong with the Indirect Duty View?Two Neo-Kantian ViewsChapter 2: Utilitarianism: All that is Gold does not GlitterSome basic Tenets of UtilitarianismUtilitarianism = Vegetarianism?ConclusionChapter 3: Eating People and Eating AnimalsUtilitarians and AnimalsEating Animals and PeopleMarginal CasesConclusionChapter 4: A New Horizon: Virtue EthicsOn Morality and the Discipline of Non-Aretaic AuthoritiesWhat is Virtue Ethics?The Virtue ApproachThe Components of VEMore ObjectionsChapter 5: What about Our Treatment of Animals?The Scope of VirtueAnimal Ethics Needs VirtueChapter 6: Veganism as a VirtueEmbracing Virtue Some Tenets of Virtue EthicsFour Important Virtues: temperance, compassion, fairness, and greatness of the soulEating Meat and the Destruction of the Environment ConclusionChapter 7: Some ObjectionsBeing Vegans is not for everyoneWhere Do We Draw the Line?Plants Suffer TooEating Meat is an Enjoyable ExperienceEating animals is naturalAnimals Eat Other AnimalsWhat about Tradition?Religion Allows MeatEating Meat is HealthfulChapter 8: Awareness: What we do to AnimalsAwarenessShould We Become All Vegans?The Link between Virtue and VeganismReaching People in Non-Manipulative WaysChapter 9: Ethical Veganism’s Beef with Cultured MeatVirtue and ObjectionsEthical Veganism and Lab-Grown MeatAbortion and MeatConclusionBibliography

In Ethical Veganism, Carlo Alvaro makes a valiant and convincing argument to replace deontological and utilitarian moral theories regarding animal rights with, instead, virtue ethics. The writing is clear, lucid, and engaging. In fact, I read the book in a matter of days, finding it hard to put down. . . . a shining example of applied ethics and environmental philosophy.