Arguments Quote by Barbara Kingsolver
““Our culture is not unacquainted with the idea of food as a spiritually loaded commodity. We're just particular about which spiritual arguments we'll accept as valid for declining certain foods. Generally unacceptable reasons: environmental destruction, energy waste, the poisoning of workers. Acceptable: it's prohibited by a holy text. Set down a platter of country ham in front of a rabbi, an imam, and a Buddhist monk, and you may have just conjured three different visions of damnation. Guests with high blood pressure may add a fourth. Is it such a stretch, then, to make moral choices about food based on the global consequences of its production and transport?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “Food and Morality” by Barbara Kingsolver, 2015
The quote argues that moral judgments about food often rely on religious authority rather than broader ethical concerns like environmental impact or worker safety.
In simple terms: People tend to accept religious reasons for food bans but reject secular ethical reasons.
Key Takeaway
Consider environmental and health impacts when choosing food.
Themes
ethics
food
environment
religion
health
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- dietary choices
- policy making
- activism
- personal health decisions
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
cultural relativism
environmental ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What ethical criteria should guide your food choices?
- How can secular arguments be made as compelling as religious ones?
A Different Perspective
Religious arguments can be deeply persuasive, making secular concerns harder to motivate.
