Veganism, Moral Motivation and False Consciousness

Abstract

Despite the strength of arguments for veganism in the animal rights literature, alongside environmental and other anthropocentric concerns posed by industrialised animal agriculture, veganism remains only a minority standpoint. In this paper, I explore the moral motivational problem of veganism from the perspectives of moral psychology and political false consciousness. I argue that a novel interpretation of the post-Marxist notion of political false consciousness may help to make sense of the widespread refusal to shift towards veganism. Specifically, the notion of false consciousness fills some explanatory gaps left by the moral psychological notion of akrasia, often understood to refer to a weakness of will. Central to my approach is the idea that animal exploitation is largely systemic and the assumption that moral motivation is inseparable from moral thinking. In this light, the primary obstacle to the adoption of veganism arises not so much from a failure to put genuine beliefs into action, but rather in a shared, distorted way of thinking about animals. Thus, common unreflective objections to veganism may be said to be manifestations of false consciousness.

Factors shaping the adoption of sustainable vegan diets

“…The study's findings revealed a significant association between holding anti‐speciesism values and having a positive attitude towards a vegan diet. The finding synchronizes with the findings of Pickett (2021) and Roeder (2021). Anti‐speciesism values reject discrimination and mistreatment of animals, advocating for fair treatment and respect (Dutkiewicz & Dickstein, 2021).…”

“…Ögmundarson et al (2023) highlight that adopting a vegan diet is propelled by ethical considerations, specifically safeguarding animal rights and welfare. For vegans, the ethical treatment of animals serves as a motivating factor, in harmony with compassionate principles that extend to all living creatures (Pickett, 2021). In the given context, certain manifestations of harm to animals, disapproved of by adherents to anti‐speciesism, assume significance (Roeder, 2021).…”

Veganism and animal welfare, scientific, ethical, and philosophical arguments

“…Additionally, most of these animals are female, disrupting the ethical principle of equality (Tovar 2011;Ruiz Carreras 2019). To these, we can add a range of ethical issues (Lea and Worsley 2001;Hines 2010;Pickett 2021) since these lifestyles also seek to prevent the harm and cruelty that animals raised for consumption suffer (Fessler et al 2003) and to improve their welfare (Jabs et al 1998;Houwer and Bruycker 2007;Le and Sabaté 2014). There are also ecological aspects; Beardsworth and Keil (1991) wrote that avoiding meat can reduce the environmental pollution of intensive meat-producing systems.…”

The Ethics of Veganism

“…It encourages individuals to critically examine their actions, consumer choices, and the impact they have on the lives of animals, the environment, and other humans. While people may have different motivations for adopting a vegan lifestyle, the ethical foundations of veganism emphasize the importance of empathy, compassion, and the acknowledgment of the rights and interests of all sentient beings [ 3 ].…”

“…Animal rights, which maintain that all sentient species have intrinsic worth and should be treated with respect and compassion, are frequently the foundation of veganism [ 3 ]. This viewpoint is supported by the knowledge that animals are able to experience several types of emotions, including pain and pleasure [ 4 ].…”