philosophy of food.docx

John Carlo Cortina Philosophy of Food MA-Philosophy Food Ethics: What to eat? “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” It is true that we can’t live without the nourishment of food. It is equally true that food can comfort a man or woman in distress. There is a special connection between man and the satisfaction of taste and level of satiety that brings about harmony in a man’s life. People around the world are in craze when it comes to satiating their taste buds. Many TV shows, local and international, represents how much people are delighted when it comes to eating. In the Philippines, we have Biyahe Ni Drew, Jessica Soho, and, Motorcycle Diaries where the different popular delicacies of the provinces in our country are shown and showcased and, best of all, eaten by the host. Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and Luke Nguyen’s TLC TV Show, and many more are just some of the well-known personalities discovering food cultures and tastes all over the world. These shows, as well as other social media shows, does not only feature the love for eating but also the different types of food from a variety of culture from their own locality and from the other parts of the planet. Popularity has been arising in showcasing the art and science in food. Colorful, creative, and intuitive ways of creating delectable array of foodstuff has been surfacing in today’s generation. People’s passion for stuffing oneself ultimately points to gratifying their cravings, most especially the taste. However, not everyone has the luxury of buying the food they want. Some people are incapable of filling in their satiety for a number of reasons. Poverty, scarcity of resources, and ethical issues are some of the said issues. Poverty is a drawback from all our wants and needs. We constantly need of supply due to demands of everyday living. Food is among the constant need we need to fulfill daily. According to ourworldindata.org, although the World Bank’s estimates for 2015 and beyond for household surveys with regards to poverty are not yet available, the projections suggest that the incidence of extreme poverty has fallen below 10% for the year 2015. Extreme poverty may have lessened from the past years; poverty is still prevalent in many countries around the world. Indigency limits people’s choice of food product. In such case, people are choosing what they can afford. They choose the food regardless of their food sources’ origin, the mode of production, and the ethics behind the existence of the resources. Being practical is a bigger picture when one is less fortunate. One good example is the current situation of people living in poverty in the Philippines. A minimum wage earner takes home roughly Php 9, 820/ monthly. This monthly pay will be allocated for essentials of daily living. One must apportion Php 327.33/day, for 30 days, to food, shelter (rental and monthly electrical and water bills), fare and daily allowance to work, and emergency fund (if there is any left). This scant of money is barely enough for one person to live sensibly, let alone a family consisting of five members ( the breadwinner, the spouse, and three children) which has always been the case in the Philippines and most third world countries. Impoverished people do not have much choice from the practical challenges of hunger. They do not have the time to think of the quality and quantity of the food, let alone the ethical issues behind its availability. Hence, livestock of poor condition is a profitable business where poor people live. The conditions of the animals are more or less ignored as long as they live by their purpose. Some people even sell double dead meat, Botcha, where the animals assumed dead are still sold in a lower price compared to the country’s regulated retail price. Even a deranged menu named pagpag is readily available for the indigent population. Pagpag comes from leftover/ expired food found in the garbage by scavengers. This food and its translation literally means “to dust off” inedible residues from the pieces of meat then either eaten right away from scavenging or recooked into a new viand. That is the inevitable case of the poor population in the matter of food choice. The health of the consumers is in major risk. It is a health concern due to its origin and, not to mention, its preparation. Both livestock and crops are needed in yielding produce because of the growing demand of mankind. More people means more food needed, ultimately needing more crops and more livestock. Farmers are in constant pressure in producing large amounts of produce and this paved way in using chemical alternatives for faster growth and gain as well as a better longevity for both plants and animals. This is the case for farmers who use the traditional way of farming their crops and livestock who always makes sure that their cultivation is always abundant and seemingly healthy. The fact of using synthetic chemicals on what later on will be consumed by people is already a horrific reality let alone the idea of genetically modified organisms. Science has improved much of the different aspects of each and every life on earth and beyond. One of its major contributions is finding the solution for world hunger. Many scientists both in agriculture and animal husbandry tried to face the challenge of growing a populous breed of crops and livestock in a shorter period of time. The invention of fertilizers, pesticides, vaccines, and antibiotic treatments gave way to a decrease in morbidity and mortality of these plants and animals increasing as well the lifespan. Consumption of treated and GMO produce has led to many hypothetical questions and one of them is if it is safe to consume. Would there be any effect on the consumers? People of the coming generations would be eating livestock and crops with alterations from their original composition. The question again is that would it have an impact in the health of the people? Will altering their natural composition and life span be a cause of detriment to the consumers? There are studies and reports with this matter. There are more diseases now as compared before. This may be due to the overwhelming stress pressed against Mother Nature with human technological advancements. Breast cancers are rampant and are more often than not related to consumption of hormonal treated consumables. Let us take poultry as an example. Many farms wants a produce that are with a higher than normal weight for a more competitive result as well as price. One method of animal (and human) weight gain is the use of steroids. There are different types of steroids but the one used in adding up essential weight gain is the one being used. However, we are unsure of how chickens react to what is injected to them and other than that how it is depleted from their systems. If it is in fact depleted, is it completely depleted? Does it have residues left in the system of these animals? And again, is it safe to consume? Some doctors suggest that the increasing number of women with cysts, breast cancers, and hormonal imbalance is the consumption of poultry given steroids or weight additives for gain. In the other side of the world, organic farming crops and livestock are in the mainstream in this generation. More people are open to how they want their food grown. In the 1st and 2nd world countries, people are generally sensitive when it comes to having organic or inorganic meat and crop supply. A lot of people are becoming aware of the benefits of organic grocery supplies versus those that came from conventional methods of farming crops and livestock. Organic food supply not only promises to be clean of synthetic medication and fertilization but also from synthetic growers that enables farmers to give essential gain to their livestock and or crops in a short period of time. Organic foodstuff generally is safer for consumption as compared to the conventional way of farming. However, organic resources are way expensive as compared to the conventional resources. In the traditional farming, crops are given fertilizers and sprayed pesticides to make them yield in number and in quality. Livestock are caged. They are given vaccines, vitamins, and supplements. Their environment is generally controlled by owners. The soil is chemically/ altered. Water is stored. Pipes, drainage, or containers are used for transferring water. Individual welfare of each animal is not really given a matter. A lot of poultry owners in the Philippines cage their chickens. It even comes to the point that these chickens are on top of one another. For animal rights activists, this is a case of animal cruelty. Isn’t slaughtering and consuming animals altogether a part of animal cruelty? “Born wild and free”, we were all born, animals and humans alike, to roam the earth and live. According to, Paul Taylor’s biocentrism, all living organisms in this world, including humans, have equal intrinsic worth. Taylor even mentioned that most living organisms are more ancient than humans. We must respect everyone and every living organism regardless if other living organisms do not have a rational mind or consciousness. Consumers are equally liable as the farmers who have produced or bred their livestock in an immoral and/or unethical manner. Allesandro Giovanelli mentioned that even if we are ignorant of how the process of production was done, we are still blameworthy of being part of animal cruelty. The act of purchasing the goods alone (e.g. meat, dairy, meal) that came through a malevolent process makes us criminally liable as the producers. Is it right to consume a living organism that has more or less the same physiology and anatomy as man. Simply speaking, these animals have life, an energy that ignites their existence in the world. Tom Reagan, an animal rights advocate, says that it is wrong to slaughter and eat a sentient being. Humans and animals have equal intrinsic value, hence, equal rights to life. Some religion respects the spirit within all living organisms. In India, specifically Hinduism, it is banned to eat meat especially from the cow. It is also said that in the Karmic Process, souls are reincarnated according to the quality of their lives prior to death. For example, some people who had led a life of pure negativity and nuisance to fellow beings will be reincarnated to either a life of hardship, or an animal or an insect depending on how bad he was before dying. Hence, the animals’ spirits may have come from a human, or can be sent to a human body once proven that he/she has lived a better life. This is similar to Plato’s transmigration of soul only in his theory it is only among the same hierarchy that they transfer. Buddhists are known to be benevolent when it comes to every living organism there is on earth. They do not kill insects (even pests) rather they believe in preserving life. Universal love and compassion is their ideal when it comes to living organisms. Other than that they believe that the animals may be a reincarnated soul of past relatives. It is then possible that the dog we have at home has the soul from a person who died in the past and could even possibly be a relative’s soul who has already passed on. Hence, hurting this dog may possibly reflect hurting a relative who has already died. Many diseases can be attributed to the consumption of meat and dairy products. When there is imbalance in the dietary needs, diseases start to arise. A man’s diet should compose of a healthy ratio of carbohydrates, protein, calcium, essential fats, and vitamins and minerals (Go, Grow, and Glow foods). An excessive consumption of a portion or more may lead to certain diseases (metabolic disorders) such as diabetes mellitus type II, cardiovascular disorders, and digestive disorders. This then is a just one of the few problems of people around the world. Vegetarians are as well becoming predominant in today’s era. Other than animal cruelty, many people are abstaining from meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish for a number of reasons. Primarily the cause for this change of diet is for health and spirituality purposes. There several types of vegetarians. One is flexitarian/ semi-vegetarian. These people occasionally eat meat but eat more vegetables and fruits. Another type is pescetarian (pescatarian), eating only fish and vegetables. One type is lacto-ovo-vegetarian. This type of vegetarians only consumes egg and dairy products or one of the two as their source of protein (ovo-vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian). Lastly, vegan who is the strictest of them all, eating only variants of fruits and vegetables and refraining from processed foods having used animal products as finished products such as refined sugar and some wines. Even honey is still an issue whether it should be used in vegan diet. Some other variants of vegan diet is eating raw vegan meaning they only eat food that has not been heated above 115 degrees Celsius as this temperature may have significantly lose essential nutritional value from the vegetarians. Another is macrobiotic diet which focuses healthy and healing quality of raw unprocessed food and allows occasional consumption of fish. The only difference with pescetarians is that they consume mostly Asian Vegetables such as seaweed. Vegetarians believe that consuming more greens and less meat products are healthier and can bring about longevity and a happier state of being. They become more active, vim and vigor with regards to life. There is a very high chance of delaying or ceasing age-related disease and aging itself. Also, deterring meat in their diet comes quite a lot in relation to spirituality. Benevolence, as mentioned earlier, to fellow living organisms is practiced among Eastern Religion such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. They believe respect and compassion for all living beings as we are all connected to each and every one. Another relation to spirituality is Pranic Healing. Pranic healing is a method of healing our body through the use of prana or energy. Our bodies are capable of naturally healing oneself without the use of any form of medication or manipulation from outside our body. Prana is obtained from high and positive vibrations from inside and outside our body. In pranic healing, meat is regarded as low vibration and dirty. It does not contain prana. Other than that it takes a sufficient amount of energy to digest meat. Unlike vegetables and fruits, especially when fresh, has very high prana content and is easily digested. Meat is regarded as dirty and low vibrational. That is why some religious groups prohibit consumption of pig, eel, and catfish. Pranic healing teaches us to cleanse our body. Eating meat creates blockages from the flow of energy taught in pranic healing. This is the reason why it is every evident that once a person removes meat in their diet, it quickly causes improvement in one’s health. In line with this is the alkalinity and acidity of our food consumptions. Our body is naturally alkaline in nature. Our blood is slightly more on the alkaline side as well. Maintaining a balance in the acidity of our body’s composition is likewise important in keeping our health well. Alkaline food groups are fruits, nuts, legumes and vegetables. Whereas, acidic food includes meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, grains and alcohol. A few years ago and up to this day, a lot of water suppliers have added the choice of giving alkaline-based water. Most water when tested it pH level are acidic in nature. Having a high acidity level in our diet changes the natural ph Level of our body and bodily fluids. A change in the natural ph level may also lead to certain types of disease same as the metabolic disorders as aforementioned. There are so many problems when it comes to eating meat. It brings about problem against Mother Nature. Livestock contributes to the greenhouse effect in the environment and creates a scarcity among human intended resources such as crops and grains. Other than that, it is almost criminally equivalent when slaughtering animals. Animal activists are becoming more rampant and vigorous when it comes to animal welfare. The dire eating of a scrumptious meal becomes immoral and in vain according to Carolyn Korsmeyer. The aesthetic taste value of a food has moral valence. Once its process commits an immoral act on the food preparation as well as production its overall taste value becomes disregarded and obsolete. The food itself becomes disgusting. Eating our fellow living organisms are malevolent acts and lowers our spiritual vibration. Most of all, eating meat has evidently shown an increase of medical conditions in the past decades. Henceforth it is most acceptable and probable to inhibit consumption of meat in our daily living. Most people will argue that protein will be depleted from our diet once we stop consuming meat. There are several plant-based foods that are high in protein such as beans, soy, chia seeds, broccoli, and many more. We can consume eggs and dairy as part of dietary needs. Many people would be reluctant in becoming vegetarians. Much time and energy to change their dietary preference is needed. The taste is one of the reasons for giving into meat and other dairy products. One small step at a time in changing our diet would be most effective in becoming vegetarian. We can gradually eliminate meat in our diet once taken into practice. Ultimately anything in excess becomes an absolute problem in any aspect in one’s life or in our society. Once this becomes globally recognized, many businesses will fall, but our lives will drastically improve. Moreover, animals, as well as Mother Nature will be saved from the possible destruction in the coming generations. Let us live long and live well with fellow animals and with our beautiful planet, earth. Sources: Korsmeyer, Carolyn. Ethical Gourmandism : in the Philosophy of Food, ed. by D. M. Kaplan. University of California Press, 2012. Fraser, David. Animal Ethics and Food Production in the Twenty-first Century: in the Philosophy of Food, ed. by D. M. Kaplan. University of California Press, 2012. Taylor, Paul W. Respect for Nature: a Theory of Environmental Ethics. Princeton, N.J. :Princeton University Press, 1986. http://www.newspiritjournalonline.com/vegetarianism-and-spirituality-whats-the-connection/ https://www.thespruce.com/types-of-vegetarians-3378611 https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty/ http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-based-dietary guidelines/regions/countries/philippines/en/