Recently in Peter Singer Category

Peter Singer's recent talk at Penn State, "The Ethics of What We Eat," addressed numerous ethical issues related to food production and consumption.

Singer criticized factory farming practices for the suffering they cause animals. Examples of such suffering include confining pregnant sows in narrow crates that prevent them from turning around, crowding thousands of chickens together in stressful conditions, and slaughtering cattle in ways that are frightening to the animals. Singer argued that purchasing animal products from factory farms is unethical and that adopting vegan, vegetarian, and "conscientious omnivore" diets allows consumers to avoid supporting factory farming.

Those of you interested in what is going on in neighboring states concerning the regulation of food animal production should read this piece from Mother Jones.  The issues it raises are relevant to the topic of Peter Singer's talk, "The Ethics of What We Eat", which will be given on November 13th at 4:00 pm in 10 Sparks on Penn State's University Park campus.

Peter Singer will give a talk entitled "The Ethics of What We Eat" on November 13th at 4:00 pm in 10 Sparks on Penn State's University Park campus.

Singer is well known for arguing that the interests of non-human animals are ethically relevant. In articles such as "Factory Farming: A Moral Issue" and books such as The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter, Singer critiques various practices in factory farms, such as keeping animals in small crates for the entirety of their lives and removing chickens' beaks with a heated knife so they do not attack each other in their cramped cages. Singer argues that such practices are unethical because of the severe suffering they cause non-human animals, and he urges those who can to adopt a vegan diet that does not require the consumption of animal products.

The talk, which is hosted by the Penn State Vegetarian Club, is free and open to the public.