We cannot claim ignorance, only indifference. Those of us who live today know more. We have the opportunity and responsibility that gives us to live at a time when criticism of industrial farms has reached public conscience. We are those who will be asked, with all the justice of the world: what did you do when you learned what animals implies?
In "Eating Animals," Jonathan Safran Foer emphasizes that people today cannot plead ignorance about the conditions of industrial farms; instead, they must confront their indifference. With widespread knowledge available about animal welfare, individuals now face a moral responsibility to act on this awareness. The past actions of society can no longer be dismissed, and there is an ethical imperative to engage with these issues.
Foer stresses that contemporary society is at a pivotal moment where the consequences of consuming animal products demand scrutiny. As public consciousness around the treatment of animals has emerged, future generations will hold us accountable for our choices and inactions. This challenges us to reflect on our behaviors and their implications for animal welfare and environmental ethics.