ABSTRACT
Veganism sits at the intersection of the solutions to many of the most pressing challenges presently facing humanity, and the rest of the animals with whom we share our planet. It is therefore remarkable, and sociologically intriguing, that this dietary and lifestyle option has not yet been adopted with greater enthusiasm. This chapter briefly summarises the case for treating animals in accordance with a moral status justified by their morally-relevant characteristics. It then reviews the global public health, economic, environmental and animal welfare benefits conferred by vegan diets. Animals should be especially valuable to us. They matter because of their many practical, aesthetic and cultural uses, but also because they are intrinsically valuable, independent of any utility they may have for human beings.
