The answer you will get to the question “what does vegan mean?” will be different based on who you ask. This is because there are so many people in society nowadays that have been exposed to the word in so many different contexts. At a basic level, most people would agree that a person who claims to be vegan excludes meat, eggs, and dairy products from their diet – but where did all this come from? Is there a correct answer? We suggest you read through the material we have assembled here and make up your own mind.
The people behind veganbasecamp.com use the word vegan to refer to a philosophy of life where the rights of all sentient beings are respected. Where all sentient beings are left to enjoy their lives without interference or exploitation. This is effectively the definition given by the Vegan Society.
The Vegan Society (1988) definition of veganism is ‘… a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals …’
The idea of respecting the rights of animals and not eating them is not new. There has been a strong association between the intelligentsia through the ages and vegetarianism. Many of the ancient philosophers did not eat meat. This is well documented.
A relatively recent scientific study (released in 2014) of the mummified remains of ancient Egyptians dating from 5500 BC to 1500BC showed that both vegetarianism and abstinence from fish and dairy was common in their society.
Follow the link to open the study in a new window ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440314000843?via%3Dihub )