Reducetarianism
The practice of reducing animal-product consumption for a variety of motivations. This includes meat, chicken, seafood, dairy products, eggs, and so on.
Prominent reducetarians include Melanie Joy, author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows; Tobias Leenaert, author of How to Create a Vegan World; and Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation.
Arguments for reducetarianism
Leenaert argues that reducetarianism is an effective strategy for five reasons.1
- Because reducetarians are numerous, they can bring about larger and faster systemic changes.
- They can therefore save more animals right now.
- Once someone becomes a reducetarian, becoming vegan as the next step is easier.
- Most people become vegan gradually rather than all at once anyway.
- Because reducetarians outnumber vegans, they interact with more people and influence more places and fields, giving them greater reach.
However, the following people may be more receptive to a “go vegan” message than to a reducetarian message.
- Relatively young people who prefer a clear-cut message
- Students, academics, and intellectuals, who tend to be relatively open
- People already interested in animal welfare
- People who enjoy philosophical discussion, in a one-on-one conversation
Opposition to reducetarianism
The American legal scholar and animal rights activist Gary Francione argues that practicing veganism is the minimum moral standard. He therefore strongly criticizes reducetarian messaging that says people need not practice “complete veganism.”
However, Francione sometimes deliberately distorts others’ arguments to emphasize his own position more sharply. Because his criticisms can be exaggerated or distorted, I recommend reading the writings or books of the people he criticizes as well.
References
- reducetarian.org/ - The Reducetarian Foundation website