The fundamental philosophy behind veganism is one which recognises that other living beings do not exist to be exploited. The same reasons you would (hopefully) not break into your neighbour's home and raid their pantry apply to bees.

We don't know what it is like to be a bee but it seems like an extraordinary and morally risky claim to suppose it is like nothing to be a bee. That you can no more upset a bee than you can upset a rock. If they work hard to make honey, are willing to kill themselves defending it, who are we to use force to take it just so we can enjoy a sweet taste?

We vegans avoid animal products not because of some arcane system of rules, but because we are trying to avoid hurting others for our pleasure.

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

ok so it is basically the stealing thing. I was just not sure as far as common usage. There are so many levels between like a fruitarian and a lacto/ovo vegetarian.

[–] NaevaTheRat@vegantheoryclub.org 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Those things are diets, veganism is a philosophy/way of living. Due to the philosophy we avoid animal products.

It's like, some people eat vegetarian because they're practicing Buddhism but eating vegetarian doesn't make someone a Buddhist.

There's been a degree of coopting the label of vegan with environmental stuff, or health stuff. Some plant based capitalism marketing stuff as vegan while killing animals to make it (e.g. beyond or impossible). Veganism is the non-human animal rights movement though, and there is more too it than a diet.

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 2 points 3 months ago

I was unaware. I thought it was a type of diet. Granted fruitarian as I have known it explained is around not killing things but I still really just thought of it as a diet.