Remy Ballew

Harvey Cormier
Moral Reasoning
December 9, 2013
Gaverick Mathenys argument for vegetarianism in Utilitarianism and Animals
contains several strong points, such as nonhuman living conditions and nonhuman pain. By using
utilitarianism, Matheny is able argue that nonhumans should be considered in the happiness
equation. However, there are several holes in Mathenys argument, such as the consequences that
affect human happiness and whether or not cutting out animal products of ones diet really
creates the most happiness.
Mathenys argument for vegetarianism does have several valid points. I agree that we
should not ignore the suffering of animals, just because they are nonhumans. If include animals
into the happiness equation, then it would be in our best interests to minimize the pain felt by
them. I feel his argument uses the fact that you would not allow your pet cat or dog to live in the
conditions that animal in a factory farm lives in, so why would allow other animals, such as cows
and chickens, to live in those conditions. This point is strong because it makes the reader feel
guilty for feeling biases and allowing innocent animals to live in horrible conditions.
Mathenys argument is that the human pleasure is not greater than the animal suffering. It
is utilitarian because Matheny is comparing pleasure verses pain, trying to obtain the most
pleasure for the most people, or in this case, humans and nonhumans. Mathenys believes that
in order to justify eating animals, we would have to show that the pleasure gained from
consuming them minus the pleasure gained from eating a vegetarian meal is greater than the pain
caused by eating animals (Disputed Moral Issues, p. 338).
The problem with Mathenys argument is whether or not we count nonhumans into the
equation. Science tells us that nonhumans brains are not developed enough to have complex
emotions that we humans have. Even if we say, in the very least, that nonhumans can feel pain,
does their pain equal human pain? Yes, factory farm conditions are unpleasant, but does this
mean we as humans should stop eating meat? Since we were hunter and gathers, we humans
have been eating meat. It has sustained our populations, and helped the human race stay on top.
Factory farms are only a recent invention, in the span of human civilization. Matheny pushes for
a meatless society, and he proposes not to stop there but to have an animal product free society.
If we as country would all together would stop using animal products there would be
several problems. Cows have to be milked twice a day, even in cruelty free farms. If they are not
milked, it cause the cows pain. Now if we live in the animal product free society Matheny
proposes, then would be just wasting the cows milk, for we wouldnt want to cause the cows
pain by not milking them. Animal farmers would be out of jobs, and any company that uses
animal products would be out of business, greatly damaging the economy, and decreasing the
amount of human happiness in the country.
But say, we convert the animal farms into produce farms. In produce farms now there
isnt nonhuman cruelty but human cruelty. Many farm hands are under paid and overworked, and
there are companies that are cruel to the farmers themselves. These companies make the farmers
pay for special seeds, pay for the chemicals to make these seeds sprout and even more things,
just so the farmers can make a living. This already causes a lot of human displeasure and this
would only be magnified if we only relied on non-animal products for food.
Another problem with Mathenys argument is with his statement, there are a variety of
vegetarian foods available, including ones that taste like animal products (Disputed Moral
Issues, p. 338). Many vegetarians and vegans like to pretend that their animal-free foods taste
similar or even just as tasty as animal products. From firsthand experience, this is a complete lie.
I have tried being a vegetarian and the food I ate during the period could not be compared to the
animal product foods I was used to eat. I have even tried vegan food, my sisters, and it was
disgusting. Vegan food, itself, is a large source of human sadness, and if we are truly trying to
obtain the most happiness, we would get rid of it immediately.
I am not saying that we should continue to allow for factory farms to exist, they are
disgusting and saddening. But I feel Mathenys extreme response to cut out animal products
completely, to maximize the total happiness, human and nonhuman, is extreme and unnecessary.
If we are looking to maximize our happiness, we should get rid of factory farms and promote
cruelty free farming. This would still keep the pleasure from eating animal products and it would
decrease the pain felt by the nonhumans.
Mathenys argument for vegetarianism to maximize the overall happiness has some
flaws. If we are to consider nonhuman happiness in the equation for overall happiness equation,
the cruelty animals experience in factory farms must be stopped. Vegetarianism isnt necessarily
the best answer, the outlawing of factory farms is.