A philosopher at loggerheads with vegans to defend steak
Vegetarianism and veganism: a danger that threatens the foundations of our society? At least this is the fear of the philosopher Jean-Claude Poizat formulated in his book “Pro-steak. Carnivorism is a humanism”. However, as he himself writes, meat consumers represent 97.8% of the French population, a very large majority. But this majority would be threatened by a form of obscurantism embodied by “vegetarian-animalism” which “by putting animal rights at the center of social concerns […] little by little comes to attack the foundations of our contemporary democratic societies and their humanist values.” For him, part of our identity is linked to our condition as carnivores. In his work, he returns to the foundation of meat consumption, to its conflicting relationships with religions, as well as to the way in which philosophy has become interested in this question.
After the elections: France weakened in a Europe that leans to the right?
The announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly would almost make us forget the result of the European elections. At first glance, the morphology of the Strasbourg Parliament has not changed much. The right, embodied by the European People’s Party (EPP), retains its first place even if with its 181 elected officials, it is far from the absolute majority. Next come the Socialists and Democrats, who have 135 elected officials. By adding the 82 Renew MEPs, of which Renaissance is a part, a coalition capable of governing the assembly is possible. However, in addition to the collapse of environmentalists, the election was marked by the progression of the extreme right, in the lead in Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, and France. While it had 118 MEPs in its ranks in the last assembly – excluding Fidesz, the Hungarian party of Viktor Orban – it now has 128 – still excluding Fidesz but also the German AfD. This progress is largely due to the National Rally, which is sending thirty MEPs to Strasbourg. Enough to influence European policy over the next five years? Could the two radical right-wing European parties, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID), make common cause despite their differences? Is an alliance between the EPP and the ECR possible?
Finally, also find the chronicles of Xavier Mauduit and Marie Bonnisseau!
28 Minutes is ARTE’s current affairs magazine, presented by Elisabeth Quin from Monday to Thursday at 8:05 p.m. Renaud Dély is in charge of the show on Friday and Saturday. This podcast is co-produced by KM and ARTE Radio.
