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How Might a Stoic Eat in Accordance with Nature and “Environmental Facts”?

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Abstract

This paper explores how to deliberate about food choices from a Stoic perspective informed by the value of environmental sustainability. This perspective is reconstructed from both ancient and contemporary sources of Stoic philosophy. An account of what the Stoic goal of “living in agreement with Nature” would amount to in dietary practice is presented. Given ecological facts about food production, an argument is made that Stoic virtue made manifest as wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance compel Stoic practitioners to select locally sourced, low resource input, plant-based foods whenever circumstances allow.

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Notes

  1. Since a much smaller portion of Musonius’ original texts survive, caution is required when judging his views. This caution includes his views on food ethics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place du Levant 1, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Kai Whiting

  2. Department of Philosophy, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA

    William O. Stephens

  3. Division of Engineering and Food Science, School of Applied Science, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee, DD1 1HG, UK

    Edward Simpson

  4. School of International and Public Affairs, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Leonidas Konstantakos

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Whiting, K., Stephens, W.O., Simpson, E. et al. How Might a Stoic Eat in Accordance with Nature and “Environmental Facts”?. J Agric Environ Ethics 33, 369–389 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-020-09829-w

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