Where do you stand on vegan absolutism?

[bricology]

freakshownia's post today raised a question in my mind, which caused me to comment, and elicited a couple of thoughtful responses. However, it was buried on page 2, so I thought I'd start a new thread about it

Comments

[lostvirtue]

IMO vegan absolutism is actually impossible. Using nothing in our modern society that hurts insects or any animal, or uses their biproducts, I really can't see a way to do it in todays modern world (or any prior time, for that matter

[infloresence]

"I mean, if I take birth control pills or a antibiotics that was tested on animals does that auto make me not vegan"

Exactly - my Valproate contains lactose and all of my medication was tested on animals. However, if I stopped taking it, I would suffer severe psychological consquences, which would be very, very bad for myself, my husband, my animal companions, my friends and my family. It would cause a lot of suffering. So I suppose there's a certain amount of utilitarianism involved in these decision making processes, as much as we might hate the concessions made. I do feel guilty, but I am trying to "give back" in my wider actions and avoid animal testing and animal products everywhere else that I can.

[slashycity]

i say if you need it to function normally (I have ADHD and need to take dexamphetamine or others around me suffer, and i am a danger on the road) then take it, and still call yourself vegan.
Your own health and wellbeing has to come first and if you have no other alternative, you should be able to take the medications with a clear conscience and still call yourself a vegan. You are making an effort in other aspects of your life to live cruelty-free.

[infloresence]

Thankyou :) That was a really nice thing to say.

[vegetus]

I think it depends on intent. If you eat something that is non-vegan but that you thought was vegan (and I think this has happened to most of us at least once) then I think you can still call yourself vegan

[bitspike]

To me, veganism is less about the actions made by a person and more about their intentions. A vegan would, in my view, be a person who does whatever is in their power to live a life free from animal cruelty, where possible. If they accidentally eat trace amounts of animal products, I don't believe this would negate their status as a vegan, though if they did it on purpose, and not out of necessity or unavailability of other options, then their values may not be in accordance with veganism

[bricology]

Some great answers! Thank you all for your thoughtful posts.

[siamoimorti]

Should it matter so long as one chooses at some point in one's life (even many different points) to not consume animal products?