One interesting suggestion in the article is that we evolved in such a way that constant, low-impact activitiy throughout the day may be more suitable for us than the intense, relatively brief bursts of activity in a typical bout of “working out.”
Author: Lee M.
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I’ve been boycotting Whole Foods for years
But mostly because of the prices and intolerable smugness.
Link via JL Wall at Upturned Earth.
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Ah, the ivory tower…
One of the many puzzling things about this post from Brian Leiter on veganism is that it seems to take place in a world unrecognizable as our own. To wit:
Let’s suppose, plausibly enough, that sentience (the ability to experience pleasure and pain) is a morally relevant characteristic. Since animals are sentient, it seems there ought to be a moral obligation not to inflict gratuitous pain and suffering on them. […] That by itself simply wouldn’t demand veganism as a response, since there are lots of ways to utilize animals and animal products that do not involve infliction of pain and suffering on them. […] To be sure, many kinds of uses of animals and animal products require them to be dead, but as long as they are killed painlessly, we have discharged our duties in virtue of their sentience.
Just out of curiosity, does Leiter actually think that the way we typically raise and slaughter animals for food is carried out painlessly? ‘Cause that’s actually a pretty high bar to meet, and if you think that our minimal duty to animals is not to inflict unnecessary suffering on them, you’ve all but given up the game, practically speaking.
I realize that many, perhaps most, vegans would make the stronger claim that it’s wrong to kill animals for our use even if done painlessly. But, even on utilitarian grounds, Leiter doesn’t seem to recognize how strong the case is. (Though I certainly disagree with Leiter’s reasoning to show that animals are not harmed in being killed, incidentally.)
Link via Theoria.
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Maddening
As someone who’s only half-way through the first season of Mad Men on DVD, it’s hard to avoid all those juicy articles on season 3 that are currently everywhere.
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Creaturely Theology
Anyone out there familiar with the anthology Creaturely Theology: God, Humans, and Other Animals edited by Celia Dean-Drummond and David Clough? I’m intrigued, but can’t seem to find much information about it online, and the cost is a bit prohibitive for buying sight unseen.
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Still the King
I agree with this review–the Elvis 1969 Memphis sessions really do represent the King at the height of his powers. The disc is one of my go-to Elvis albums (along with the Sun Sessions and ’56). While the version I have is a previous release, I imagine this new remastered version is well worth the money for any Elvis fan who doesn’t already have it.
A Thinking Reed 