How Then Shall We Eat? Cultivating a Calculus of Compassion and Conscience: An Exploration of Factory Farming as Modern Ritual Sacrifice

This thesis looks at the literature, both ancient and current, on vegetarianism, veganism, food ethics, CAFOs, and ritual sacrifice, and makes the case that a change in current large-scale agricultural practices are due for a collective paradigm shift. Part of the paper will focus on how CAFOs function in society as a modern form of institutionalized ritual sacrifice that exists in part because of atrophied conscience, will, and empathy. The paper will continue to argue for a continued push toward a plant-based diet, noting strong evidence suggesting that such a shift is in order if we are to conserve, protect, and care for our planet and ourselves.