The Evolution and Reflection on the Ethical Defense of Vegetarianism in the West.

Vegetarianism is not only related to personal dietary habits, but also involves profound ethical issues.The key to ethical defense of vegetarianism lies in whether animals are recognized as having the same moral status as humans. Since modern times, there have been two main views on the moral status of animals in the West, namely, animal instrumentalism and indirect obligation theory. However, contemporary vegetarianism advocates believe that neither can provide strong ethical support for vegetarianism. Represented by Bentham, hedonic utilitarianism and preference utilitarianism represented by Singer believe that humans have a direct moral obligation to animals. The former believes that all creatures that can feel pain and happiness should be treated morally equally, while the latter adds the preference standard on the basis of inheriting and developing the former, and advocates vegetarianism for the purpose of maximizing happiness. However, they are all consequentialist ethics, which is difficult to prove that persistence in vegetarianism is the responsibility of humans. Starting from the perspective of deontology, Reagan advocates that individuals have moral rights independent of consequences, trying to provide a more powerful ethical defense for vegetarianism. However, there are also some limitations in the aspects of the boundaries of life subjects, natural law and food chain, inherent value, and moral subjects. Although vegetarianism has many advantages, it cannot be viewed in an abstract way the relationship between humans and animals, let alone reduce the moral status and dignity of human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]