Raw Veganism: The Philosophy of the Human Diet

Description

Human beings are getting fatter and sicker. As we question what we eat and why we eat it, this book argues that living well involves consuming a raw vegan diet. With eating healthfully and eating ethically being simpler said than done, this book argues that the best solution to health, environmental, and ethical problems concerning animals is raw veganism--the human diet. The human diet is what humans are naturally designed to eat, and that is, a raw vegan diet of fruit, tender leafy greens, and occasionally nuts and seeds. While veganism raises challenging questions over the ethics of consuming animal products, while also considering the environmental impact of the agriculture industry, raw veganism goes a step further and argues that consuming cooked food is also detrimental to our health and the environment. Cooking foods allows us to eat food that is not otherwise fit for human consumption and in an age that promotes eating foods in 'moderation' and having 'balanced' diets, this raises the question of why we are eating foods that should only be consumed in moderation at all, as moderation clearly implies they aren't good for us. In addition, from an environmental perspective, the use of stoves, ovens and microwaves for cooking contributes significantly to energy consumption and cooking in general generates excessive waste of food and resources. Thus, this book maintains that living well and living a noble life, that is, good physical and moral health, requires consuming a raw vegan diet. Exploring the scientific and philosophical aspects of raw veganism, this novel book is essential reading for all interested in promoting ethical, healthful, and sustainable diets. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Notes 1. The ethics of veganism The ineffectiveness of moral theories Moral theories and veganism Animals and rights Some theoretical problems Ethical theories are for philosophers not for people Procedural moral theories and bare virtue ethics Virtue ethics Virtues and vices Bare virtue ethics Conclusion Notes 2. There is more than animal suffering Aesthetic-based argument Integrity-based argument Gustatory-based argument Conclusion Notes 3. In vitro meat Is cultured meat a solution to animal suffering and environmental degradation? Lab-grown meat and ethics Ethical veganism and lab-grown meat The plight of animals Lab-grown human meat Notes 4. Ethical veganism: What it is, what it is not, and what it should be What is veganism? Plant-based diets What veganism is not Misconceptions about veganism What it should be Notes 5. Raw veganism: The human diet Raw and veganism Conclusion What’s next: we have to save veganism Notes 6. Education and abolition Price increase Legal ban on the production and sales of animal products Further objections Moral education Veganarchism Notes 7. Raw veganism and children Should vegan parents raise their children on an animal-based diet? Health concerns Social concerns On the equal strength of 4) and moral reasons for veganism Conclusion Notes 8. Conclusion Notes References Index