Is eating meat morally justified?

Humans, virtually all around the world, eat meat. However, because of the adverse effects it has on the welfare of animals, meat consumption has been met with moral opposition. Four arguments concerning this moral issue are discussed. The introduction describes Singer’s utilitarian account for the equal consideration of animals and Regan’s deontological approach for animal rights. The second section advances Engel’s sentience-based account for the immorality of eating meat. The third section discusses a response to such sentience-based arguments, namely Hsiao’s argument in defense of eating meat. Lastly, in the discussion I sketch two objections against Hsiao’s argument.