ANIMAL EMANCIPATION's definitions
(From Greek klept- to rob, & Latin capere to seize)
Kepism is a mentality defined by the parasitic dependency of humans on non-human animals—regardless of the suffering involved.
A "kep" refers to any exploitative, wrong action humans should not do. Kepism necessitates animal objectification, inherently precluding true decency.
It identifies the systematic seizure of animal life, labor, and bodies. Like a pickpocket who steals without causing physical pain, Kepism is defined by the "taking" itself, independent of whether suffering or "interest violations" occur. It spans from brutal forms (conscious dismemberment of awake animals) to seemingly "harmless" ones (taking a found bird feather).
Kepism covers false beliefs like: "animals are objects that exist for humans to use" or "a cow's skin is a leather jacket."
Examples of Kep Actions:
Medical/Science: Dissecting frogs, testing on mice/rabbits, harvesting horseshoe crab blood, extracting bear bile, using fetal bovine serum.
Agriculture/Diet: Branding cows, castrating piglets, separating calves from mothers, shearing sheep, milking goats, eating meat/seafood (pork, veal, duck, foie gras, caviar, fish), consuming whey or casein.
Materials/Fashion: Wearing suede, shearling, silk, or ostrich leather, using animal glue, taking bone for carving.
Wildlife/Pets: Taking found feathers or abandoned nests, catch-and-release fishing, clipping wings, declawing cats, docking tails, breeding purebreds, dog fighting, snake charming.
Kepism is a mentality defined by the parasitic dependency of humans on non-human animals—regardless of the suffering involved.
A "kep" refers to any exploitative, wrong action humans should not do. Kepism necessitates animal objectification, inherently precluding true decency.
It identifies the systematic seizure of animal life, labor, and bodies. Like a pickpocket who steals without causing physical pain, Kepism is defined by the "taking" itself, independent of whether suffering or "interest violations" occur. It spans from brutal forms (conscious dismemberment of awake animals) to seemingly "harmless" ones (taking a found bird feather).
Kepism covers false beliefs like: "animals are objects that exist for humans to use" or "a cow's skin is a leather jacket."
Examples of Kep Actions:
Medical/Science: Dissecting frogs, testing on mice/rabbits, harvesting horseshoe crab blood, extracting bear bile, using fetal bovine serum.
Agriculture/Diet: Branding cows, castrating piglets, separating calves from mothers, shearing sheep, milking goats, eating meat/seafood (pork, veal, duck, foie gras, caviar, fish), consuming whey or casein.
Materials/Fashion: Wearing suede, shearling, silk, or ostrich leather, using animal glue, taking bone for carving.
Wildlife/Pets: Taking found feathers or abandoned nests, catch-and-release fishing, clipping wings, declawing cats, docking tails, breeding purebreds, dog fighting, snake charming.
Zero Kep.
by ANIMAL EMANCIPATION March 8, 2026
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