tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343418039422454577.post309011473528037203..comments2024-01-12T06:15:58.743-05:00Comments on Hillside Homestead: Discussion: Is Ethics a Luxury?Couretonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345010106705079453noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343418039422454577.post-6050763506611430942012-08-30T13:07:43.716-04:002012-08-30T13:07:43.716-04:00Thanks for chiming in.
The point about circumstan...Thanks for chiming in.<br /><br />The point about circumstances and alternatives is very important. There are huge areas in the USA where no matter what you want to do you are stuck with virtually no choices for food. You eat what is in the supermarket from the big agribusinesses. In that case, you can think all you like about ethics of food, it is nigh on impossible to eat more ethically. Sure you can lobby for more choices, and for those companies to do better with food, but not everyone has the time or money to influence the political process.<br /><br />That points to the fact that as with ethics, you can't really look at it just on an individual level as much as I focused on that because it is something that ends up being on a cultural level in the end, and has to be to make any sort of sustained and long term change.Couretonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345010106705079453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343418039422454577.post-48480396048111648122012-08-30T12:56:08.101-04:002012-08-30T12:56:08.101-04:00My immediate impression is that there are degrees ...My immediate impression is that there are degrees of ethics, just as morality is almost never clearly black and white. <br /><br />For instance, there are numerous factors to consider when discussing the ethics of food, including individual circumstances and alternatives. <br /><br />In general, I tend to believe that our biggest ethical draw is actually in ensuring our survival, the survival of our family, and by extrapolation the survival of human civilization. Everything sort of stems from there. When you look at it from this perspective, handling food ethically tends to make it safer, healthier and keeps it around longer, thus contributing to our own survival.<br /><br />However, a draconian interpretation of food ethics may not make sense for folks in poorer situations, as you intimated. As such, I would argue that it is MOST ethical for them to behave in such a way that ensures their survival in the least harmful manner. Even if the same practices may be less acceptable in other parts of the world.<br /><br />Just my quick thought. Great post btw.Michael Cantornoreply@blogger.com