Defending Animals Disappointing People

<p><b><i>Defending Animals, Disappointing People</i> offers a ground-breaking exploration of what happens when caring deeply about animals places us in conflict with the people we love.</b><br><br>Drawing on care ethics and relational philosophy, Karen S. Emmerman develops relational vegan ecofeminism, a framework that takes animals’ moral standing seriously while also acknowledging the emotional, cultural, and familial stakes woven into human traditions. Rather than treating veganism as a simple matter of ethical prioritization, Emmerman shows that refusing a grandmother’s lovingly prepared chicken soup, or rejecting a family hunting tradition, carries profound relational weight. These moments produce “moral remainders” of lingering hurt, regret, or estrangement that persists even when we make the best <i>ethical </i>choice.<br><br>Through richly contextual analysis, Emmerman argues that ethical life requires more than clear principles: it requires relational moral attention, a practice of empathy, repair, curiosity, and mutual recognition. Balancing philosophical rigor with narrative warmth, the book illuminates the tensions, grief, and possibilities at the heart of living ethically in a speciesist world. <i>Defending Animals, Disappointing People</i> sets out a hopeful yet honest path for navigating both inter-animal and intra-cultural conflicts – one that neither abandons animals nor dismisses the humans with whom we form our deepest connections.</p>