Humanist Program: The Why and How of a Plant Based Diet

Evan Thomas and Kaylyn Rhoads’ presentation focuses on the ethical reasons for increasing consumption of plant based foods and decreasing consumption of animal foods. Evan and Kaylyn rely on secular philosophical and empirical argument to show that the production of animal foods is ethically undesirable because of the way it impacts animals, the environment, and human health. Humanists who are interested in using critical reason to examine cultural norms, and in understanding complex empirical problems such as global climate change and ecosystem destruction, will find this presentation thought provoking. Evan and Kaylyn conclude their presentation by offering practical advice on how to make sustainable lifestyle changes to shift one’s diet away from animal foods and towards plant based foods.

Evan Thomas is graduate student in the philosophy department at Ohio State University writing a dissertation about the history of philosophical thought about the minds of animals. Evan went vegan in 2014 after reading Peter Singer’s “Animal Liberation” and is well read in animal ethics and food ethics. Evan is interested in using philosophy to enrich lives and to encourage critical reflection on the status of animals in society.

Kaylyn Rhoads is a long time animal lover and animal protection activist. At 16 years old she went vegan after watching PETA’s “Meet your Meat” video and that same year she hosted her first vegan event with a community potluck at her local community center. Over a decade later, Kaylyn has years of experience in animal protection activism and founded the Columbus Veg Community (CVC) a nonprofit which focuses on a “meet you where you’re at” approach to promoting compassionate lifestyle choices.

Join us at 11:30 for pizza in the meeting room! The formal program starts at 12:00.