Food and Philosophy: Eat, Think, and Be Merry

by Fritz Allhoff (Editor), Dave Monroe (Editor)

Overview

Food & Philosophy offers a collection of essays which explore a range of philosophical topics related to food; it joins Wine & Philosophy and Beer & Philosophy in in the "Epicurean Trilogy." Essays are organized thematically and written by philosophers, food writers, and professional chefs.

• Provides a critical reflection on what and how we eat can contribute to a robust enjoyment of gastronomic pleasures
• A thoughtful, yet playful collection which emphasizes the importance of food as a proper object of philosophical reflection in its own right

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405157759
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	11/19/2007
Series:	Philosophy for Everyone Series
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Fritz Allhoff, PhD, is an assistant professor of philosophy at Western Michigan University. His research areas are in ethical theory, applied ethics, and philosophy of biology/science. He is the editor of Wine & Philosophy (Blackwell 2007).

Dave Monroe was an accomplished chef, restaurant consultant, and caterer prior to pursuing academic philosophy. He is an adjunct instructor at the Applied Ethics Institute of St. Petersburg College.

Table of Contents

Foreword viii
Odessa Piper

Acknowledgments x

Setting the Table: An Introduction to Food & Philosophy 1
Fritz Allhoff and Dave Monroe

Appetizers: Food in Culture & Society 11

1 Epicurus, the Foodies’ Philosopher 13
Michael Symons

2 Carving Values with a Spoon 31
Lydia Zepeda

3 Should I Eat Meat? Vegetarianism and Dietary Choice 45
Jen Wrye

4 Sublime Hunger: A Consideration of Eating Disorders Beyond Beauty 58
Sheila Lintott

First Course: Taste & Food Criticism 71

5 Taste, Gastronomic Expertise, and Objectivity 73
Michael Shaffer

6 Who Needs a Critic? The Standard of Taste and the Power of Branding 88
Jeremy Iggers

7 Hungry Engrams: Food and Non-Representational Memory 102
Fabio Parasecoli

Second Course: Edible Art & Aesthetics 115

8 Can a Soup Be Beautiful? The Rise of Gastronomy and the Aesthetics of Food 117
Kevin W. Sweeney

9 Can Food Be Art? The Problem of Consumption 133
Dave Monroe

10 Delightful, Delicious, Disgusting 145
Carolyn Korsmeyer

11 Food Fetishes and Sin-Aesthetics: Professor Dewey, Please Save Me From Myself 162
Glenn Kuehn

Dessert: Eating & Ethics 175

12 Eating Well: Thinking Ethically About Food 177
Roger J. H. King

13 Picky Eating is a Moral Failing 192
Matthew Brown

14 Shall We Dine? Confronting the Strange and Horrifying Story of GMOs in Our Food 208
Paul B. Thompson

15 Taking Stock: An Overview of Arguments For and Against Hunting 221
Linda Jerofke

Petits Fours: Compliments of the Chef 237

16 Food and Sensuality: A Perfect Pairing 239
Jennifer L. Iannolo

17 Duty to Cook: Exploring the Intents and Ethics of Home and Restaurant Cuisine 250
Christian J. Krautkramer

18 Diplomacy of the Dish: Cultural Understanding Through Taste 264
Mark Tafoya

19 Balancing Tastes: Inspiration, Taste, and Aesthetics in the Kitchen 276
Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot

Afterword 287

20 Thus Ate Zarathustra 289
Woody Allen

Notes on Contributors 293

Index 299

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Food & Philosophy: What a rare and brilliant book! Certainly chefs must be aware of precise technique, privy to the science behind cooking, and reverent of pristine and seasonal product. But now, more than ever, if a culinarian is even attempting to achieve greatness, he or she must be immersed in the basic premise of ‘Why we celebrate food!’ This profound work should be required reading, not just for those of us involved in the culinary arts, but for everyone interested in food.”
–Charlie Trotter, Gourmet Chef

“Food & Philosophy offers tasty insight into the worlds of gastronomy and wisdom, and shows why these two ingredients are not mutually exclusive. Offering everything from ‘Vegetarianism and Dietary Choice’ to ‘Picky Eating is a Moral Failing,’ this book’s menu has something for everyone, and is bound to awaken your mind’s taste buds!”
–Graham Elliot Bowles, Chef de Cuisine, Avenues

“Food & Philosophy is a book we’re very happy to keep at our bedside for late-night reflection and indeed inspirational ‘food for thought.’”
–Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, authors of Becoming a Chef

Editorial Reviews

It turns out that not only have reputable psychologists at well-respected institutions done experimental studies on this effect, but it also serves as a kind of foul point for various philosophical questions. The works set out to address the intersection between philosophy and areas of everyday general concern: food, wine, and beer. In addition to straightforward philosophical discussions, the volumes include historical discussions, legal questions, some personal reflections.” (Gastronomica, Fall 2008)

“A truly well rounded view…and a critical reflection on what and how we eat can contribute to a robust enjoyment of gastronomic pleasures.” (Gourmet Retailer)

From the Publisher