Weak Signal's description 
Within the developed world veganism and vegetarianism has recently experienced a large increase of adherents. Vegetarianism and then veganism will be the next step in the moral development of humankind. Empathy for animals has existed for thousands of years. Originally we felt empathy for suffering in dogs, they lived with us and we loved them for thier companionship. Their proximity to the lives of humans meant a great affinity between humans and dogs was able to develop. As society has grown in terms of civilisation so has the depth of its empathy. Empathy now extends past dogs to whales, dolphins (for thier size and intelligence) for most people and for the growing number of vegetarians all animals. The ability to empathise with fellow sentient creatures is obviously on the rise. The upshot of this will be the eventual prohibition of eating animals all together.