Abstract

I have argued, then, that is simplistic and potentially dangerous to suppose that a contractarian model can adequately account for all of the moral relations in agriculture or serve singularly as a basis for policy. Conversely, I do not naively argue that we ought simply to replace a contractarian based agricultural ethic with an ethic of care such as the one I have outlined. A single farmer may be a spouse, parent, son or daughter, caretaker of land, keep of animals, business operator and partner, employer, processor, and consumer. Agriculture itself encompasses all of these relations. Both our ethical systems and social and economic policies must reflect and build on this diversity of contexts and associated practices