Analysis of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas
Analysis of the story:
Imagine there exists a beautiful city where everyone is happy and lives free of any fear, anger, guilt, or inequalities. Everything is perfect. However, in order for this city to exist, there must simultaneously exist a child who is eternally locked in a dark confined room with terrible living conditions and no hope to ever experience living in this utopia. Everyone in this city eventually finds out about the child's existence. After learning about the child's existence and condition when they are deemed ready, some choose to visit the child. Most of those who do, return home angry about the condition of the child. A select few feel so much guilt that they decide to walk away from Omelas without a clue what exists outside of this utopia. They don't expect the child to be freed after leaving. They know that the suffering of the child is going to exist no matter what decision they make. So why do they leave? They don't do it to free the child, but rather to free themselves. They trade the utopia for moral peace. What do you think you would do in this situation?
I would like to believe that I would be one of the few to walk away from Omelas, but none of us will ever truly know without being put in that situation. Think of any ethical dilemma where you have one side that benefits from the suffering of the other side. I think this story gives a good argument against the "utopian" side of those arguments even if the suffering side might be viewed as "less worthy" from a moral perspective.
This brings me to veganism. Think about it like this: replace the child in the basement with the slaughter and poor living conditions of animals in farms, and replace the perfect city with the taste and convenience of animal produced foods. I, personally, would leave Omelas without hesitation. This situation is often used to argue that there is no reason to consume animal produced products, and I honestly agree. I think for most people, there is no morally justifiable argument to eat animal produced foods (and I say this as a non-vegan). Now, society definitely hasn't made it easy to not consume animal products, but I think it is definitely possible with some intention and planning. I would LOVE to be convinced otherwise, because then I wouldn't feel morally obligated to stop consuming animal products. However, unless someone convinces me that there exists at least one morally justifiable reason to eat animal foods, I will start my journey towards a vegan lifestyle.
-- Carter