Defining Veganism: Practice or Belief?
Debates about definitions of “-isms” often center around whether they should describe a practice. For veganism, this amounts to deciding whether 'veganism' should refer to a practice (of abstaining from animal products), to a belief (in the importance of animal welfare, for instance), or to both.
MATTHEW O’SHAUGHNESSY: The Oxford dictionary defines veganism as “the practice of not eating or using any animal products.” But many people define “vegan” more broadly, using it to refer not only to a practice, but also to an identification with a broader identity or set of ethical beliefs. In this article, the authors argue that a minimal, practice-based definition of veganism should be favored.
Why does the definition of veganism matter? In animal welfare campaigns, success often hinges on whether the vegan community seems appealing and welcoming. More inclusive and expansive “lifestyle” conceptions of veganism can be perceived as more inclusive, and many people see themselves as veg*n even if they do not meet a technical practice-based definition…
Debates about definitions of “-isms” often center around whether they should describe a practice (like teetotalism or bicyclism) or a belief (like feminism or Protestantism). For veganism, this amounts to deciding whether “veganism” should refer to a practice (of abstaining from animal products), to a belief (in the importance of animal welfare, for instance), or to both…
The authors of the article: “The Ism in Veganism: The Case for a Minimal Practice-based Definition”… support a minimal practice-based definition — one that refers only to the physical practice of abstaining from animal-derived products. They argue that this minimal definition respects the many possible beliefs that could drive one to abstain from animal products…
The authors argue that this minimal definition (based only on the practice of abstaining from animal-derived products) is more logically coherent and, by not implying that all vegans hold the same beliefs, avoids painting vegans with the same brush. This, they argue, allows veganism to be more neutral and approachable, able to be supported “by anyone for any reason”…
Defining veganism more broadly than a strict practice also has benefits. Many people, for instance, define veganism as a belief in animal or environmental welfare, arguing that this broader definition can help animal welfare advocates create inclusive communities even when members might differ in some details of their diet. For example, the strict practice-based definition of veganism excludes people who seek to reduce but not eliminate animal products from their diet, potentially making them feel excluded from vegan communities…
The Vegan Society’s definition of veganism provides an example of the benefits of both practice- and belief-based definitions. When he founded The Vegan Society in 1944, Donald Watson used a practice-based definition of veganism: “the practice of living upon fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, and other wholesome non-animal foods.” Four years later, members pointed out that the organization’s mission to “oppose the exploitation of sentient life” went beyond diet. Today, The Vegan Society’s definition of veganism includes avoiding all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals. SOURCE…
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