What’s Wrong With The Bleeding Heart Case for Veganism

That’s not a question, by the way. Let me tell you what is wrong with the argument presented by this Medium article.

Let’s start by accepting as fact that every living species is food for one or more other species. That is the foundation of nature. It involves killing. The activity the author of that article is unwilling to be a part of.

I understand his desire to preserve the lives of cattle, pigs and chickens. But how far is he prepared to go? If he is offended by all killing, determined to protect and preserve living creatures, what about rats? Cockroaches? Locusts? Lice? Mosquitoes? Viruses?

Are you beginning to see the inconsistencies and hypocrisy in his argument? He may be able to guarantee that all the vegetable products he consumes have been grown organically. That means the farmer used no artificial fertilisers or insecticides. But I’m prepared to bet the farmer found a way to kill some of the pests that threatened to deplete or destroy his crop.

And that natural fertiliser he used? I bet it came from animals. And, like it or not, those animals will either die a painful ‘natural’ death or be killed.

Cabbages and beetroots growing in a raised bed in the author’s garden. Author’s photograph

I am fortunate enough to have a small garden. I grow vegetables for my own consumption. I feed them with farmyard manure. Those vegetables are…