“Shepherds, …fishers, and hunters have increase of food spontaneously from nature, not from barter or commerce…Domestic animals are for both the use and the food they provide, and most but not all wild animals are for the sake of food and other uses… Therefore, nature, if it produces nothing incomplete or in vain, necessarily has done all these things for the sake of human beings.
Therefore, one natural kind of acquiring [what is needed] is part of household management…”
Aristotle, Politics
Aristotle’s notion of the household gives a different perspective on some basic aspects of human life. The whole realm of providing for people’s nutritional needs tended to give form and character to much of the life of a household.
One thing that Aristotle often emphasizes, in all areas of his philosophical reflection, is the beneficent character of the order of nature. “Nature produces nothing incomplete or in vain.” These are powerful words, full of implications. Perhaps this is nowhere more apparent than in how the earth yields up sustenance of various kinds for human life.
Layers of commercial and technological intermediaries in food production, distribution and preparation can hide from us a basic truth: we can feed ourselves only because the earth feeds us. Every kind of food is at root an amazing gift, grounded in mysterious processes well beyond our ken or control—such as the sprouting of seeds.
Anything that reconnects us to the mystery and the gift of food can bring us closer to realizing who we are, and where we stand.
Done well, hunting is such a thing. As all human activities it can be abused and mis-practiced: we can be selfish and careless. But there is precedent almost as old as human life itself, for hunting as a way of stewardship, and a way of acknowledging and receiving the gift of food.
This time of year, when a good number of people turn to some kind of hunting of wild animals, we might think again about the foods we eat, and where they come from, and how best to receive these gifts of life.
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great, has been considered by many to be the greatest ancient philosopher. The Politics is one of his major ethical works.
SPECIAL NOTE: Today I am doing a VIDEO presentation of the Wednesday Quote. My intention is that the video complement the written post. I am very interested in any feedback from you on this. Thank you.
Image: Father and Son Hunting. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
Video was enlightening, thanks so much!
Thank you!
Love the video addition! Great for those of us who haven’t been able to learn from you in person in a long while! Would love to see more.
Thanks Bradley! I hope to do this every week…
John,
The video/audio made the point you were trying to convey come more easily to me. My eyes were closed and I was in the woods walking carefully in search of prey as you read.
I really enjoyed this type of delivery and if it creates too much work an audio would be a very close second best.
Jim (from Appaloosa/ friend of FN)
Jim, Thanks much for this feedback. I’m so glad your were able to have a moment in the woods, as it were. I hope you are doing well.
John,
The video is a wonderful complement to the post! It gives one a more personal connection. (It also brings back fond memories of the Bethany retreat.) 🙂
Thank you Kevin! We share your fond memories…
Hi Dr. C,
I agree very much with the position you take in this article! In the modern age of careless food waste and poor dietary choices, It certainly seems worthwhile to reduce the separation between ourselves and the animals we eat, and to develop an awareness of the time and effort it takes (or perhaps should take) for food to be brought to the table. A traditional hunting experience furthermore seems a uniquely fitting and respectful way of closing this separation and integrating ourselves into the process of food production and consumption. I have not really hunted myself, but I’m hoping to do so in the future.
Also, I love the video format! It takes me immediately back to my fond memories of having you as a teacher. I’d love to see more videos in the future.
John, I really appreciate this. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you are able to get hunting before too long.
Love the video, John. Getting to listen to you read again is the best part!
Thanks Joshua. I do love reading out loud!
Hello Dr. Cuddeback,
Good for you for extoling the fundamental basis of hunting and showing it is a worthy pursuit. I have gone hunting a number of times – but have not been particularly successful. The experience of hunting is so foreign to the vast majority of people here in densely populated NoVA. I have raised my daugher to be comfortable in the woods and to use firearms. I went through the VA Hunter Safety Program with her just so she has an inkling of what safe, responsible hunting is all about.
Ed Morrison
Ed, I think you have done a good turn for your daughter. The VA hunter safety program is a good one from my experience. It is a great parent/child experience. And as you note, hunting can be time well spent even if it isn’t very ‘productive.’
Am enjoying your comments even more with your inclusion of the video, it is more a dialogue. Thanks, regarding your recent invitation of telling stories, I used to ask my Grandmother all the time and I treasure every story of what her life was like, she was born in 1900. I myself in 2018 repeat the wisdom of her stories to others constantly. Wisdom stories are powerful. Thanks again. Happy Thanksgiving. I had mine in October I’m Canadian.
God bless you and your family.
Thank you, Clara! You are blessed indeed to be in a position to pass that wisdom on…