Radio Curious

Why do we eat some animals and not others? That is the topic of this conversation with Melanie Joy, Ph.D. She is the author of “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism.” 

Carnism is the invisible belief system, or ideology, that conditions people to eat certain animals. Carnism is essentially the opposite of vegetarianism or veganism; “carn” means “flesh” or “of the flesh” and “ism” denotes a belief system. Most people view eating animals as a given, rather than a choice; in meat-eating cultures around the world people typically don’t think about why they find the meat of some animals disgusting and the meat of other animals appetizing, or why they eat any animals at all.

The interview with Melanie Joy, Ph.D. was recorded in Ukiah, California on November 29, 2010 and began when I asked her to describe the term ‘carnism.’ 

The book she recommends is, “Food Revolution: How your diet can save your life and our world,” by John Robbins.

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