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Published on: March 8, 2019
Diet, embodiment, and virtue in the mechanical philosophy
1Concordia University, Department of Philosophy, 1455 Blvd. de Maisonneuve, West Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 1M8. justismi@alcor.concordia.ca
Summary
Seventeenth-century philosophers linked diet and virtue, viewing food as crucial for a moral life. Early modern thinkers explored
Area of Science:
- * Early Modern Philosophy
- * History of Science
- * Ethics
Background:
- * Seventeenth-century natural philosophers re-examined the self, moving beyond dualistic views but maintaining a connection between mind and body.
- * This perspective implied that bodily practices, including diet, directly influenced the pursuit of virtue.
- * The study focuses on the intersection of natural philosophy and moral philosophy in the early modern period.
Observation:
- * Food preparation and consumption served as a critical link between natural and moral philosophy.
- * Philosophers sought a 'natural' human diet, paralleling efforts to establish ethical principles.
- * Early modern dietary concepts were influenced by the Stoic idea of oikeiôsis (assimilation/appropriation).
Findings:
- * Dietary concerns were more prevalent in early modern philosophy than previously acknowledged, engaging most prominent natural philosophers.
- * A parallel existed between natural philosophical inquiries into diet and moral philosophical projects for virtue.
- * Cooking was conceptualized as both a physiological process ('coction') and a foundational social activity.
Implications:
- * Understanding early modern diet provides insight into the embodied nature of the self and its connection to moral philosophy.
- * The study highlights the significance of seemingly mundane practices like eating in shaping philosophical thought.
- * This research reframes the importance of diet in the history of Western philosophy, particularly during the early modern era.
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