An Animal's Place Michael Pollan Analysis

When people eat meat, have they ever stopped to consider what it is that they are eating? Or what type of life the animal they're eating went through? The article, “An Animal’s Place,” by Michael Pollan, explains the moral issue of whether or not it's correct to consume meat. Blake Hurst’s “The Omnivore's Delusion: Against the Agri-intellectuals” presents himself against critics who naysay industrial farming and criticize the ways animals are treated there. After close examination of both articles, the reader will be able to determine what type of farming is more logical. In Michael Pollan’s article, the author seeks to inform whether or not it's correct to consume animals, as well as their treatment overall. Many animal rights activists

The author starts by explaining how many farming critics focus more on the process by which food is being raised, believing food should be organic. According to Hurst, the large organic organization is requiring backbreaking tasks to be done (2). In other words, organizations that are adopting the organic method are physically demanding. Secondly, many believe that industrial farming isn't necessary, and every farmer should stick to the organic method. They have not considered that if farmers do go organic, there would not be enough food to feed the country. Hurst states, “only industrial farming can possibly meet the demands of an increasing population and increased demand for food” (4). Hurst also states “we have to farm industrially to feed the world”(12). This, in fact, shows that farmers can not adopt the organic method, and that industrial farming is the only way to feed the world, even if the population is increasing. Lastly, many critics have shown negativity toward farmers, but farmers have shown that they care about only one thing: farming. According to Hurst, “if we weren’t closely connected, we wouldn’t still be farming” (11). Hurst revealed that he still farms the same land his grandfather did 80 years ago, but finds himself using more advanced technology; still, that does not take away any knowledge or experience he’s had as a farmer (12). This merely shows that farmers are taking further responsibility with their farms by using the best farming methods available: staying connected to their farms, using technology that will make their farms productive, so on, so forth. Overall, Hurst clearly points out why industrial farming is really necessary and also defends what critics say about industrial