Are you also concerned about other interventions outside vegan advocacy which push for the replacement of animal-based with plant-based foods?
Yes, the same argument applies for other types of reduction of animal products, especially beef. Chickens tend to use the much less cropland per calorie, reformed or not. I’m not so much concerned, as I’m resigned about figuring out whether decreasing meat consumption is good or bad. It’s almost surely good for farmed animals, I’d give say 55% that it’s bad for wild animals. But then there is also impact on the environment (like global warming) which could also be a factor for x-risks and stuff. But I’m not even that sure that some x-risks are bad from a utilitarian POV. Also vegan advocacy might also increase moral circle expansion. But even that could be bad. For example, if people care more about animals, maybe they will care more about preserving natural habitats, which might contain a lot of suffering. There are so many factors that go into all kinds of directions. We’re clueless.
For me, chicken welfare reforms look like an unusually good bet in this uncertain world. They help big farmed animals, reduce the populations of small wild animals, and maybe increase moral circle expansion a bit. All of these seem likely good. They do harm the environment, but it’s a relatively small effect, and I think it can be outweighed by donating a little to some environmental charity. So to me, chicken welfare reforms look good from many different worldviews.
Charities that help invertebrates that you mentioned seem very good as well from many perspectives. But we are clueless about their long-term effects too.
Yes, the same argument applies for other types of reduction of animal products, especially beef. Chickens tend to use the much less cropland per calorie, reformed or not. I’m not so much concerned, as I’m resigned about figuring out whether decreasing meat consumption is good or bad. It’s almost surely good for farmed animals, I’d give say 55% that it’s bad for wild animals. But then there is also impact on the environment (like global warming) which could also be a factor for x-risks and stuff. But I’m not even that sure that some x-risks are bad from a utilitarian POV. Also vegan advocacy might also increase moral circle expansion. But even that could be bad. For example, if people care more about animals, maybe they will care more about preserving natural habitats, which might contain a lot of suffering. There are so many factors that go into all kinds of directions. We’re clueless.
For me, chicken welfare reforms look like an unusually good bet in this uncertain world. They help big farmed animals, reduce the populations of small wild animals, and maybe increase moral circle expansion a bit. All of these seem likely good. They do harm the environment, but it’s a relatively small effect, and I think it can be outweighed by donating a little to some environmental charity. So to me, chicken welfare reforms look good from many different worldviews.
Charities that help invertebrates that you mentioned seem very good as well from many perspectives. But we are clueless about their long-term effects too.