Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicists, looking at the consequences of one’s actions instead of imposing values on others, here is my take on today’s post, “What Should an Ethicist Tell His Readers?” I’ve just been asked to take on a column that deals with ethical quandaries. Is there anything I should let readers know? KWAME ANTHONY APPIAH My response: The person[…] Keep reading →

Who doesn’t find people telling them what to do annoying? Here’s something people who don’t eat meat commonly say: I’ve been saying for a long time that it’s weird some people are anti-vegan and try to argue against it. That’s like saying “I’m pro-cruelty, pro-heart-disease, and anti-environment.” It’s not just people who don’t eat meat. People who eat meat have different reasons but the same amount of judgment and telling[…] Keep reading →

I used to think of pasta and rice as staples—that is, the basic food of a meal to put everything else around. Over the years I’ve decreased the pasta, rice, and other staples in favor of vegetables. Now that I see restaurants’ goals less to healthily nourish you and more to entertain your mouth and eyes, I see so-called staples as ways to increase their profit at the expense of[…] Keep reading →

I heard yet another person saying “I don’t have time for negative people. I’m a positive person. I can’t let them bring me down.” Oh, how perfect they sound! High and mighty! He blithely and ironically didn’t notice the negative start to what he said, “I don’t have time for…” Sometimes they’ll outright say so-and-so is a negative person. People who talk about others being negative are judging others by[…] Keep reading →