Abstract

Vegans live in a world where they are frequently brought into close proximity with dead animals, on the plates of fellow humans as well as those of domesticated animals. There arises a moral awkwardness, along with a question as to what forms of witness or non-witness might be appropriate in these circumstances. A comparison may be drawn between the rendering of non-human animals into objects of consumption and the kinds of academic discourse that currently circulate in conference halls and classrooms. To witness or not to witness? The answer is not clear. Sometimes we may have to rise from the dinner table or avoid the conference room; sometimes it may be important to remain.