What is life?

[turil]

So, animal rights and veganism are primarily about respecting and valuing life. But what is life? Why is it so special that we want to give living things certain basic rights

Comments

[irishpecas14]

i think that most people identify with the group that they're closest to... so that is why many people respect the animalia kingdom and not others (not that this is right... obviously)

also, veganism is a lifestyle that is supporting the environment... so maybe it's also supporting other forms of life (other than animal).

i don't know... it's a hard question, i believe that people define life differently depending on their circumstances and the information that they have... if they venture out to define it at all...

what do you think?

[afi_devotchka]

check out animal liberation by peter singer if you have not already.

[lost_starlight]

For some, veganism promotes more of a rejection of the accepted standards of production and exploitation. I think that the exploitation of animals is representative of the exploitation of the people that our current political systems stomp on. The ideals of environmentalism also factor into this- the destruction of the earth that comes from the production of waste is unnecessary, and as a vegan, I try to lighten my environmental footprint. For me personally, veganism is less about eliminating suffering for all forms of life and more about acknowledging that humans are not the only forms of life, and respecting the amazing sustaining systems that are in place on earth naturally without adding to exploitation.

Sorry if that makes zero sense and doesn't answer your question- I am sleepy.