veganism: I've heard veganism discussed as if it was fundamentally a diet, but other people seem to talk about it as if it was an ethical position. Which is it really? Thanks :)|||Here are a few quotes which I think answer this question well. "With the rising popularity of avoiding animal products in one’s diet for health and environmental benefits, the word “vegan” is also rising in popularity. Unfortunately, this increasing popularity of the term is also generating confusion over its meaning. The term was coined by Donald Watson in 1944 to refer to the avoidance of animal products not only in one’s diet, but in all aspects of one’s life, including wool, leather, and fur. While the term “vegan” will likely continue to be misused or redefined by the standards of its original meaning, the term “veganism” will likely always refer to the ethical position. The “-ism” suffix is almost always a strong indicator that one is referring to a paradigm, philosophy, theory, way of living, or way of viewing the world. While there may be some confusion over the word “vegan,” “veganism” is definitely an ethical position." -- Dan Cudahy Professor Gary L. Francione (a vegan and distinguished law professor and leading philosopher of animal rights theory at Rutgers, New Jersey US) -- "Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining the peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and refusing to participate in the exploitation of the vulnerable" "Veganism is not a "sacrifice." It is a joy." "You cannot live a nonviolent life as long as you are consuming violence. Please consider going vegan" "Please, when you discuss veganism, avoid talking about "compassion" and "abuse." That just encourages people to think that the problem is how we treat animals and that we need to be more "humane." That is is the approach of the "happy" exploitation new welfarist groups. The issue is use and not treatment. It's a matter of justice and not "compassion." "Veganism is not merely a matter of diet; it is a moral and political commitment to abolition on the individual level and extends not only to matters of food, but to clothing and other products, and to other personal actions and choices. It is important to recognize that just as an abolitionist with respect to human slavery cannot continue to be a slaveowner, an abolitionist with respect to animal slavery cannot continue to consume or use animal flesh or animal products." "Ethical veganism is a powerful way of saying “no” to injustice" -- Prof. Gary L. Francione Here is another quote which explains veganism: "[I] am a vegan because after much learning and thought about the issue, I have come to see enslaving, exploiting, or intentionally killing an animal as morally equivalent to enslaving, exploiting, or intentionally killing a child. The only difference is one is socially acceptable and the other is socially unacceptable." --Dan Cudahy (author of "Unpopular Vegan Essays" blog) If you want to find out cutting edge information about veganism, get a hold of a copy of Prof. Francione's book "The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?" I've posted a link to a description of the book amongst the many other excellent links in the section below. Prof. Francione is on Twitter and Facebook so you could ask him yourself :-) Best wishes|||Vegan-ism is fundamentally unethical and a biological farce. To be a vegan is to deny who and what you are as a human being. It is a biological fact that human beings are omnivores. Omnivores have the capability of being able to eat and digest, meat, fish, fruit and veg almost everything. When all forms of technology and great civilisations are taken away, a human is nothing more than a hunter gatherer. There is absolutely nothing ethical about being a vegan. It is an affront to human nature. Obviously, what I've said has been unpopular. I was expecting the reaction that my answer received, so I'll elaborate exactly what I mean. In the developing countries there are millions of people dying from starvation. What we in the developing world take for granted, shopping at supermarkets, having a take away, those starving millions in the developing world can only dream about. No, I'm sorry, but a vegan is only a vegan, because far too much is granted in the developed and democratic nations. If any vegetarian, or vegan was faced with starvation and destitution, then I can guarantee, that meat eating wouldn't be a problem for even the most staunchest of vegans.|||Veganism is an ethical position. Anyone who is eating a diet that is devoid of animal products for health or personal preference is eating a plant-based diet; they are not vegans themselves. To be vegan, in addition to animal-based foods, you must avoid animal entertainment (zoos, rodeos, circuses, etc.), not wear clothes made with animal products, avoid products tested on animals, and support adopting companion animals (never buying or breeding). Usually someone just going on a diet is not going to include all those aspects of veganism into their life, making them not vegan. A better term for someone who does this is strict vegetarian.|||Its an ethical position. Veganism means not regarding other sentient individuals as a ressource for human use and pleasure. Nonhuman animals exist just as little for human purposes as women exist for men. The vegan position is also based on the scientific fact that humans don't need animal products for their health. And since humans have the capacity to choose what they eat and wear (in contrast to other animals), they are able to choose a way of life that doesn't enslave, torment and kill other indiviuals who have the same interest in living a long and non-compulsory life as humans do.|||Its an ethical position. If you think about it, we make the ethical choice not to kill and eat certain things everyday. We don't kill and eat dogs, cats, horses, etc. because in our society that would be wrong. It is no more ethical to kill and eat chickens, pigs and cows just because society thinks its ok. But veganism is more than the animals we eat. Being vegan means not exploiting animals in any way, for food, clothing, accessories, entertainment, experimentation, or any other reason.|||As mentioned before, the word "vegan" was coined by Donald Watson who defined the term as a moral position. Growing up in a rural, farm-centric area, Donald Watson soon learned that vegetarianism did not address the problems associated with all animal use. For example, a cow needs to be pregnant to give milk and this results in the calf being separated from the mother. Male calves become veal, Female calves becomes part of the next generation of dairy cows which is necessary as the majority of dairy cows are killed at a quarter of their possible lifespan because after that point in their life, they are less able to physically take the stress of constant pregnancy (just like a human woman). And so, 1944, Donald Watson created the term "vegan" to refer to a person who refrained from using animal products as much as practically possible (the word practical should not be confused with convenience). Since this time, the word has often been morphed to suit the "users" needs (ex.: veganist, veganish, veg*n) and thereby completely overlooking those the word and the movement is meant to help. If someone "eats like a vegan" or is "almost vegan", I would say they eat a plant-based diet because the difference between "almost vegan" and vegan is the difference between someone who only abuses people once a week and someone who never does.|||Veganism is an ethical position. It is the least we owe to other animals, to not exploit them for our own ends. No matter how "well," how "nicely," we treat them, using other animals is unjust. Veganism recognizes that we do not need animal products to survive, and that continuing to use animals for our own purposes causes them unnecessary harm. Veganism reaches beyond just diet in so many ways. Veganism as an ethical position recognizes that all forms of discrimination (racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, speciesism, and so on) utilize an irrelevant criterion to deny an individual equal moral consideration. Veganism insists that we take the rights of all animals (humans included) seriously, and it is a political statement regarding our commitment to nonviolence and abolition of animal use.|||VEGANISM IS AN ETHICAL POSITION! IT'S A PHILOSOPHY! THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISM! Whoever chooses to be a Vegan for dieting reasons it's a moron. Welcome though to our ranks even if you are totally misguided. Vegetarianism it's a dieting thing. Vegetarians don't necessarily support AR activism. But VEGANISM IS ALL ABOUT ABOLITIONIST AND ANTI SPECIST ACTIVISM.|||Veganism is not merely a matter of diet!! It is a MORAL and political commitment to ABOLITION on the individual level and extends not only to matters of food, but to clothing and other products, and to other personal actions and choices. It is important to recognize that just as an abolitionist with respect to human slavery cannot continue to be a slaveowner, an abolitionist with respect to animal slavery cannot continue to consume or use animal flesh or animal products. ANIMALS have a RIGHT NOT TO BE USED AS PROPERTY!! Going VEGAN is the right thing to do! Reject all kinds of VIOLENCE!! If you agree that we must not use animals as properties! Please, GO VEGAN!|||This depends on each individual but for those that claim veganism (versus being an herbivore) they live on a moral/ethical position, generally for the rights/liberation of non-human animals and the environment. Those that simply practice eating an herbivorous diet simply focus on the diet.|||Ethical position. It is morally unacceptable to exploit other sentient creatures for human purposes. It is also completely unnecessary, since humans do not need to consume or otherwise use non-human animals or their products in order to survive.|||Veganism an ethical position and the minimum that we owe to other sentient beings.|||It depends on the individual. But for most, its moral/ethical|||It can be either or both depending on the beliefs and motivations of the individual.|||ethical position.|||An ethical position that effects our diet (among other things)