Veganism as a comprehensive worldview: Rethinking educational philosophy through ethical and ecological lenses

Heather Marshall is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the PGCE in Religious Education at Edge Hill University, UK. Her research interests lie at the intersection of education, ethics, and social justice, with a particular focus on veganism as a worldview, inclusive pedagogies, and adaptive teaching practices in religious and moral education. She has published on reflective practice, trauma-informed teaching, and equality, diversity, and inclusion in education. Her current work explores philosophical and pedagogical frameworks for supporting diverse worldviews in education and promoting ethical literacy in schools and teacher training. This article examines veganism as a comprehensive worldview and its implications for educational philosophy. Drawing on Vidal’s framework, it argues that veganism constitutes a coherent ethical orientation that challenges anthropocentric assumptions in education. Engaging with critical animal studies and posthumanist thought, the article positions veganism as a form of critical praxis, linking moral commitments to questions of justice and ecological responsibility. It demonstrates how recognising veganism as a worldview enables more critical engagement with curriculum, including the interrogation of hidden curricula and the rethinking of moral education, contributing to the development of ethical and ecological literacy in an ecologically precarious world.