PHIL1915: The Philosophy of Food: You Are What You Eat... Or Are You?

Food is a central feature of our lives. Not only do we need it to survive, but it is what brings us together. Just think about how many of our daily activities, and important milestones, are centered around food! But, what is food, exactly? Does something have to nourish us, to count as food? Is candy food? What about beer? What is taste? What does it mean to have manners? And why are there so many manners associated with food? What kinds of food should we eat? Is eating foods that are sourced locally really better? Are genetically modified foods bad? What about eating meat? How do we square the ubiquity and importance of food with Western standards of beauty, especially for women? How should food be distributed? What does it say about a culture if foods that are considered bad for us are the only ones that vast segments of the population can afford? These are just some of the questions we will ponder in this freshman seminar.

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