Omnivores Dilemma: Chapter 17

In this chapter of Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan looks at the idea of vegetarianism and himself becomes a temporary vegetarian. The food industry recognizes that if people were fully aware of what is going on in meat production, less meat would be consumed. Currently we are separated from animals. Almost able to convince ourselves that the meat in the grocery store was never a living thing, but vegetarians and animal rights activists are becoming more common. People now seem to have two choices. They “either look away or become vegetarians” (307). 

Pollan examines the ideas raised by Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation, a book that converted many to vegetarianism The basis of Singer’s argument is that as a species we are concerned with equality, which is based on interests, not characteristics. It is undeniable that it is in the interest of animals and humans alike to avoid pain. We should, therefore, at least be willing to give animals equal enough treatment, that we don’t subject them to pain. We treat people below the mental capacity of animals (like the retarded, insane, and children) equally, so why don’t we treat animals equally? Pollan raises many questions, most of which the animal rights activists have no trouble counter arguing and it all comes back to the concept of equality and pain.

Animals feel pain, but there is a difference. For people, “pain amplified by distinctly human emotions” (316) Some animals, like those on Polyface, don’t suffer through their lives. This may be more justified. After all domesticated animals would not be able to survive alone. Pollan seems to come to the conclusion that if we can make the lives of animals more humane, it is easier to justify eating them

I think I agree with Pollan’s conclusion. Instead of changing the way that humanity eats, we should change the way the food we eat is produced and raised on farms. So many problems with the food industry seem to be moving away from natural cycles. I wonder if vegetarianism is not just another one of these instances. However, the suffering that animals endure on industrial farms is unjustified. We have reached the point where eating meat is no longer necessary for our survival. It is a preference. Given that it is a choice, we should be willing to make sacrifices in both quantities produced and costs to ensure that animals do not suffer so greatly.

Is eating meat justified?

Given that humans evolved eating meat, is vegetarianism unnatural? How would an increase in the number of vegetarians impact the food chain?