C Lou / Carrie (@clouhamilton1 & veganismsexandpolitics.com & drcarriehamilton.com) is an author, editor & translator. She wrote the book "Veganism, Sex & Politics: Tales of Danger & Pleasure" about her vegan journey & how veganism relates to wider social justice issues including feminist, queer & anti-racist politics as well as environmentalism.
In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “what matters?”
Sentientism is "evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings." The video of our conversation is here on YouTube.

We discuss:
0:00 Welcome

2:05 Carrie's Intro - academic history to writing & activism
- Acknowledging Canada's indigenous & settlement history
- Growing up near Toronto
- Agnostic, democratic socialist parents, focused on social justice, activism environmentalism & praxis. No feminism, animal ethics or colonial awareness
- "I didn't know any vegetarians when I was growing up"
- Extending moral consideration beyond humans. Considering our responsibilities
- Feminism & women's studies
- The liberation of leaving academia
- Writing "Veganism, Sex & Politics"
- Academic activism, public reach & politics
- "The idea that you would do animal studies while at the same time eating their bodies..."

16:25 What's Real?
- Agnosticism
- Psychedelics, spiritual/mystical experiences
- Having respect for religious people but little patience for religious institutions. Not positive influences. Patriarchy & authoritarianism
- Institutional abuse & cover-ups
- Naturalistic & supernatural experiences of awe & wonder
- How supernatural beliefs can warp ethics
- How religious organisations use societal deference as a shield
- The positive contributions of religious institutions
- Feminism: asking questions & considering practicalities

30:09 What Matters?
- Supernatural & naturalistic ethical frameworks
- The importance of challenging our assumptions & influences (e.g. re: sentient animals & veganism)
- Individualism, collectivism, authoritarianism, dogma
- Forms of feminism
- "It's important to think about... & revise... where our values come from"
- Movements that are ostensibly secular often mindlessly integrate aspects of authoritarianism & dogma from religion
- Criticisms of veganism as puritan & sacrificial. But it's a pleasure!
- The challeges of talking about veganism as a "moral baseline" (Francione, Steiner). Too much dogma?
- Applying a naturalistic humility & scepticism to ethics
- Introspection via Buddhist meditation & writing
- Having the space & resources to slow down & be mindful

+ more! Full notes on YouTube and Sentientism.info.

Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at Sentientism.info. Join our "I'm a Sentientist" wall using this simple form.
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Thanks for the post-prod Graham.