食物伦理律令探究

An Inquiry into the Law of Food Ethics

食物不仅仅是人类食用的自然之物,更是人类在其能力范围内超越自然的必然限制并自由地创造好(善)的生活的精神之物。在人类生活的历史进程中,食物以其特有的方式彰显着饥饿驱使下所产生的人与自然、人与人之间对抗颉颃与重叠共生的密切联系。在此联系中,食物自身蕴含着深刻的伦理关系。这就提出了食物伦理的根本问题:如何把握食物所蕴含的伦理关系?该问题可以分解为三个子问题:是否应当禁止食用任何对象?是否应当以任何对象为食物?应当以何种对象为食物?食物伦理第一律令、第二律令、第三律令分别回应这三个子问题。第一律令、第二律令是规定食物伦理"不应当"的否定性律令,其实质是食物伦理的消极自由(免于饥饿或不良食物伤害的自由)。第三律令是规定食物伦理"应当"的肯定性律令,其实质是食物伦理的积极自由(正当追求优良食物和善的生活的自由)。三大律令分别从不同层面诠释出食物伦理的根本法则或食物伦理的总律令——食物伦理的自由法则。

Food is not only the eatable natural compound for man, but also the spiritual thing for a good(kind) life, created by man under free will within his capabilities and after breaking through those necessary boundaries marked off by nature. In the history course of man′s development, food, by its unique means, has clearly reflected the interconnection of wrestle or co-existence between man and nature, and between man and man, driven by hunger for food. In this kind of connection, food has harbored deep ethical relationships in itself. Therefore, a fundamental issue concerning food ethics, how to grasp the ethical relations embedded within food ethics, can be proposed. The issue actually can be viewed from the following three dimensions. Should the idea and practice to have any? thing as food be forbidden-Should anything available be taken as food? What can be deemed as appropriate food? The first, second and third laws embodied within food ethics have interpreted the three dimensions respectively. The first and second laws are ones with negation which prescribe the "shouldn′t" of food ethics and their nature is passive freedom of food ethics (freedom from hunger or from the harm of inappropriate food). While the third moral law is an affirmative one which regulates the "should" of food ethics and its nature is active freedom of food ethics (freedom to pursue the superb food and a kind life in a proper way). The three laws have uncovered the fundamental rule of or the supreme principle of food ethics-the law of freedom, from different levels and layers respectively.