PHIL 9.04 The Ethics of Food Choice and Food Policy
In this course, we will consider ethical questions for food production, food consumption and food policy. How do ethical values interact with our food choices? Should we support the production of local and organic food? If so, why? If not, why not? Are there compelling moral reasons to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet? Is it possible to be an ethical omnivore? Do current production practices or food policies have a disproportionately negative impact on some populations? How, if at all, should practices or conditions in the food industry influence our behavior as consumers? In the course of our discussions, we will consider the ethics of harm, distributive justice, complicity, death and obligations to future generations.