Opportunistic Carnivorism

Authors: Almeida, Michael J.¹; Bernstein, Mark H.¹

Source: Journal of Applied Philosophy, Volume 17, Number 2, 2000 , pp. 205-211(7)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

Some carnivores defend the position that the opportunistic consumption of meat is morally permissible even under the assumption that it is morally wrong to act in ways that ause unnecessary suffering to sentient beings. Ordering and consuming chicken once a week, they argue, will not increase the numbers of chickens suffering or slaughtered, since the system of purchasing and farming chickens is not sufficiently fine-tuned to register differences at margin. We argue that, insensitivity of the market notwithstanding, consistent consequentialists are morally prohibited from each additional purchase and consumption of meat.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/1468-5930.00154

Affiliations: 1: Division of English, Classics, Philosophy & Communications, University of Texas

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