Choosing hunger |
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Institution: | 1. EPIUnit — Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal;3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal |
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Abstract: | In much of the academic literature, hunger is treated as a problematic condition that affects people against their will. However, this focus ignores the many instances in which people actively choose to go hungry. The clearest examples are cases – such as dieters, hunger artists, and religious fasters – in which the choice seems voluntary. Yet people forced into famine or starved in concentration camps also make critical, though often subtle trade-offs related to hunger. This paper explores two fundamental characteristics that help to clarify the differences between various cases of hunger: the degree of choice and the severity of the consequences. By emphasizing the centrality of choice and providing a framework for the analysis of various situations, the paper argues for a re-examination of the concept of hunger. |
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Keywords: | Hunger Choice Food security Decision theory |
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