Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.
This original and most widely accepted definition of veganism — from The Vegan Society — encapsulates both the practice and philosophy of veganism.
There are several key points made in this definition:
Overall, the Vegan Society's definition of veganism reflects the belief that it is wrong to use animals to satisfy human desires and that vegans strive to avoid all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty as much as possible in their daily lives despite living in a non-vegan world.
Veganism is the principle of the emancipation of animals from exploitation by man.
A first official Vegan Society definition from 1949.
To seek an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man.
Later this was clarified with more detail.
In 2021 Jan Dutkiewicz and Jonathan Dickstein proposed a neutral definition of Veganism.
Veganism is the abstention from consuming and using animal-derived products.
“Our goal in defending the minimal definition of veganism is not the promotion of either veganism or any particular strategy for promoting veganism, nor is it a critique of any particular strategy for promoting veganism or motivation for arriving at vegan practice. We simply hope that by limiting the range of meanings of the term “veganism,” the term retains a simplicity, communicability, and accessibility that provides analytical clarity and coherence for scholars and commentators, and assists in communication about individual actions and within advocacy efforts whose success depends on the mass and sustained participation of disparate actors whose “veganism” is primarily enacted in a disaggregated fashion in the marketplace.”
At its core, veganism is rooted in the ancient belief of ahimsa, which is the principle of nonviolence and compassion towards all living beings.
Ahimsa, which has been a central tenet of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism for thousands of years, encourages the belief that all living beings have the right to live their lives free from harm and suffering. This belief is reflected in veganism, which seeks to eliminate the exploitation and cruelty that animals often face in industries such as farming, animal testing, and the clothing and entertainment industries.
Veganism is also a progressive philosophy that embraces humanity's unique concepts of ethics, our intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities while challenging traditions and encouraging people to think critically about the choices they make and the impact they have on other beings.
Ultimately, veganism is a choice that reflects the best of what it means to be human. It recognizes our capacity for compassion, empathy, and understanding, and it encourages us to use our position of power and technology in a way that benefits all beings and the environment. By choosing to live a vegan lifestyle, individuals can make a meaningful difference in the world, and contribute to the creation of a more compassionate and sustainable future.