This book explores food from a philosophical perspective, bringing together sixteen leading philosophers to consider the most basic questions about food: What is it exactly? What should we eat? How do we know it is safe? How should food be distributed? What is good food? David M. Kaplan’s erudite and informative introduction grounds the discussion, showing how philosophers since Plato have taken up questions about food, diet, agriculture, and animals. However, until recently, few have considered food a standard subject for serious philosophical debate. Each of the essays in this book brings in-depth analysis to many contemporary debates in food studies—Slow Food, sustainability, food safety, and politics—and addresses such issues as “happy meat,” aquaculture, veganism, and table manners. The result is an extraordinary resource that guides readers to think more clearly and responsibly about what we consume and how we provide for ourselves, and illuminates the reasons why we act as we do.
David M. Kaplan is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Texas.
Contributors:
Johanna Berlin
Emily Brady
Jeffrey Burkhardt
David Castle
Gary Comstock
Keith Culver
Gary L. Francione
David Fraser
Julie Gold
William Hannah
Richard Haynes
Lisa Heldke
Matthias Kaiser
Carolyn Korsmeyer
Michiel Korthals
Gyorgy Scrinis
Roger Scruton
Kevin W. Sweeney
Paul Thompson
Stellan Welin
320 pp.6 x 9Illus: 6 tables
9780520269330$70.00|£59.00Hardcover
Feb 2012