We live in an age of food anxiety and obsession. At the same time as we have serious food injustices around the world, amplified by climate disasters, we have cultural obsessions with food novelty that render questionable the nature of food itself. In this course we examined the centrality of food in our everyday lives and thought philosophically about the role of food in shaping identities, the self, social worlds, knowledge, ethics, and art. In doing so, this course covered some core subfields within philosophy (ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and metaphysics). Throughout the semester, we used a combination of philosophical analyses, interdisciplinary essays on food, food art, public podcasts on food, and public-facing projects in order to think critically about the crucial role of food in our lives and what it might mean to eat well.

This course was taught with the support of the Mellon Humanities PhD Interventions Project. It emphasized the importance of public scholarship, and students learned to practice philosophical inquiry in public-facing ways.

*Note on Remote Learning

*This course began as an in-person class, but was moved to remote learning halfway through the semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, two planned public engagement activities had to be cancelled. In addition to a scheduled work day on Emory’s Oxford College Organic Farm, students had been preparing to host an “Ask a Philosopher” booth at Emory’s Farmers’ Market. While we are saddened by the unfortunate circumstances that led to the cancellation of these events, we want to acknowledge the enthusiastic support and work of our partners in helping to plan and secure resources for these activities. Thanks to Daniel Parson of Oxford College Farm, as well as Caitlyn Bennett and Ruth Geiger, for having the instructor, Whitney Ronshagen, out to the farm in December prior to the semester and for their exciting work educating on the farm. Thanks also to Jamie Lutz and the Emory Office of Sustainability Initiatives for the interest and help in scheduling our booth at the Farmers’ Market.