Definition of Veganism

[Diana]

Vegans know what Veganism is.

Newcomers and lurkers may not know. So I thought it would be nice to have a thread that gives a definition and where we can discuss it and argue about it if we want to.

There's a nice definition on the Australian Vegetarian website http://www.vnv.org.au/Definitions.htm :

Veganism is a way of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of all products from the animal kingdom. A vegan is a total vegetarian who consumes no animal by-products.

Vegans go even further by avoiding both animal derivatives and animal-tested products in their whole lifestyle. This means an avoidance of meat, milk, eggs, butter etc., as well as leather, wool, cosmetics, soaps and shampoos derived from animal ingredients or tested on animals.

Why? Most people who have chosen a vegan lifestyle have done so because they have become aware of the cruelty and exploitation involved in the making of animal products.

Vegans choose to act positively to reduce this cruelty by abstaining from animal-derived products and thereby reducing the demand for them. Vegans realise that it is unnecessary to inflict suffering on animals in order to lead a healthy, happy, normal life.

Indeed, avoidance of animal products usually results in enhanced, natural good health.

Coupled with compassion for animals is the awareness that animal production is a grossly inefficient means of producing food which our heavily populated world can no longer continue to support.

[Sevenseas]

Sounds like a good definition to me.

[Amy SF]

Yes, it is pretty good.

Now if we can only reduce that to one or two sentences, we can use that in RL situations. :D

[Diana]

I think there is one thing that definitely should have been included in their sentence which says "meat, milk, eggs, butter, etc." and that is the word "honey".

[das_nut]

It needs "but yeast, being a fungi, is acceptable to vegans".

[purrpelle]

I've seen definitions that include honey, FWIW.

Personally, I think we need less labels, not more. the problem with trying to group people into neat little boxes is that there are infinite grey areas... medication, acceptable levels of bug parts in processing, freeganism, etc.

If i had to put a definition on it, I would say "a vegan is someone who avoids consuming or purchasing animal products". the word avoid leaves some wiggle room for vegans who have to take medications, freegans, etc.

[Sevenseas]

I personally don't think animal products -consuming freegans are vegan. And I don't think this is bad: I may still consider freegans more ethical than vegans, and there's no need for 'vegan' to be the all-encompassing term for every ethical action there are.

[purrpelle]

that's a good point, but what about the vegans who are occasional freegans or freegans of opportunity? if you are poor and are gifted 20 cans of soup that may have "natural flavors" can you not still call yourself a vegan for descripive purposes? or do you now have to explain to waitpersons that you are not vegan, but please hold the butter/egg/cheese and meat?

my point is what is the definition used for? for practical purposes or to include or exclude? there needs to be flexibility I think.

[janie]

Flexibility results in confusion.

Strict definitions eliminate "wiggle room," and thus, confusion.

With that said, I don't have any problem with labels if they're used correctly.

[purrpelle]

but what is correct? people aren't robots. the definition would fill a book an inch think.

and again, who makes the rules? who makes the definition?

if the definition of a vegan is someone who does not consume animals or animal products, then none of us is vegan. because at some time you will take a advil, or ride your bike and eat a bug by mistake, or borrow someone's shampoo, etc. absolutes won't work.

[purrpelle]

veganism is a concept. thus i think it's open to interpretation.

[Diana]

I think the "rules" were made by the guy who INVENTED the word.

[purrpelle]

I think the "rules" were made by the guy who INVENTED the word.

really? did he invent the concept? was he the first person ever to not consume animal products?

[Diana]

He termed the coin "veganism" with a definite idea in mind. Before him, "veganism" did not exist. He structured it.

[purrpelle]

I'd like to see the rulebook that says that if you invent a word you have forever control over any interpretations of the word.

[purrpelle]

if that's the case, why didn't you post that guy's definition? or is that what you posted? in that case he failed to mention honey, so that would mean your interpretation is different than his.plus, the definiton you posted would exclude breast milk and uhh... other bodily fluids.

edited to add:

from the UK vegan society: "Veganism (also known as strict vegetarianism or pure vegetarianism) is a philosophy and lifestyle"

If it's a philosophy, then that would mean it's open to interpretation. in either case, I hope none of us ever needs a band-aid, or else we can't post here anymore.

[purrpelle]

A quick search for "definition of veganism" came up with no less than 10 slightly different definitions.

these are my questions:

if you have to take medication on a daily basis, are you still a vegan?

if you are a vegan, then have to go to the hospital, where they use all sorts of non-vegan things on you, when are you a vegan again? same question if you eat something accidentally.

if you are gifted a food that you cannot give away is it better to throw it away or eat it?

[Ravenfire]

I put life saving medicines/hospital visits up there with driving a car and using a computer. It's impossible to be 100% vegan living in today's society. However, I don't think that when it comes to food & household products there is any wiggle room. There are plenty of cheap vegan foods out there (I'm very poor and manage to make it work fine) and I make all of my own cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products all of which are very cheap. I spend a lot less money now than when I wasn't vegan and buying meat, cheese & premade household/hygiene products.

I wouldn't eat non-vegan food that someone gave me because 1. that food could go to someone who uses animal products thus making them purchase less animal products in the end and 2. I've seen the health benefits of being vegan so I wouldn't want to put unhealthy animal products in my body just because they were free.

I don't see any difference in a person who decides that they're going to call themselves vegan but still consume honey or a bit of milk here an there and a person who calls themselves a vegetarian but still eats chicken or fish.

[dopedanny]

i like this definition from the UK vegan society FAQ


A vegan is someone seeking a lifestyle free from animal products for the benefit of people, animals and the environment.

A vegan therefore eats a plant-based diet free from all animal products, including milk, eggs and honey. Most vegans do not wear leather, wool or silk.

it includes dietry-only vegans, but most importantly says we try to avoid all animal products, which should clue everyone with a working brain into the fact that we dont eat fish. or chicken. or oysters. or ... :wall:

[froggythefrog]

I say, "I try not to use anything that comes from animals or was tested on animals, whether it's in food and drink, what I wear, personal products, etc."

[Diana]

if that's the case, why didn't you post that guy's definition?

Because I thought you would already have read up all about Donald Watson, seeing as you are a vegan. When I heard about veganism, he was the first person I went to explore on the internet.

[Diana]

For some reason, I can't edit my above post.

So for those who do not know who Donald Watson is, I suggest you google his name. His obituary on the BBC website is the link I post here (I am very fond of the BBC).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4450376.stm

[purrpelle]

Because I thought you would already have read up all about Donald Watson, seeing as you are a vegan. When I heard about veganism, he was the first person I went to explore on the internet.

I became a vegan before the internet.

[purrpelle]

I would have thought you would have posted his definition since you consider him the end all be all of veganism.

oh what, maybe you didn't post the great donald's info because it doesn't jive with your interpretation of veganism!


The Vegan Society is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, promoting veganism.

Founded in Britain on November 1, 1944, by Donald Watson, it was the first ever vegan society, in the process coining the word vegan for "non-dairy vegetarians".

what's funny is that everyone has a different concept /definition of what veganism is. noone's talking about eating chicken one day or honey- it's about avoiding, reducing, in all aspects of consumerism. why the need to police it?

[Diana]

Your aggressiveness towards me is most strange.

Whatever... I'll still phone the laboratories I promised for your information.

I thought you taught yoga? Doesn't yoga normally make people non-agressive?

I have great great respect for Watson. I do not have any idols or gurus - it's not in my nature. But this guy was really someone. He walked his talk and I have a lot of admiration for people who do that. As he invented the word veganism, I think I go along with his definition.

If I invented a word, let's say "scramotchbagorificul", and I specified what it meant... it would be odd if someone came along a few years later, or a few decades later saying it meant something else. Words DO mean something. And normally they mean something very specific. Or else there is no way of communicating properly.