Our inability to eat well: Marcuse’s description of a one-dimensional society

            What is a one-dimensional society? Why are we unable to eat well? Marcuse claims that the one-dimensional society is a dominant society that seeks to justify the domination of one group or class over another and simplify reality when achieved. This ties into the food industry very well. Many are unable to get healthy options as organic foods due to high prices. There is also a pattern of grocery distribution among social classes. In this essay, I will focus on tying Marcuse’s ideas with prices of organic vs non-organic, fast food distribution, and different types of grocery stores.

            One of the issues of our inability to eat unwell is the prices of organic and non-organic foods. The reasoning behind the cost of food is labor put into it and how much of the product is available. It costs more if an item requires labor input versus mechanic input and more human labor. Organic products are also produced far less which leads to farmers not being able to lower the cost. Distribution of non-organic products are more efficient and cost less since they are made in higher volumes. Organic products, however, are inefficient since they are made in small amounts. That is why major grocery stores have organic sections separated from the rest.

            “The liberty to work or to starve” when it comes to the distribution of wealth is very powerful (Marcuse). Fast food places tend to be around the middle to low-income classes. Lower-income classes cannot afford healthy options for food and also aren’t exposed to places that carry healthy options. Many places are not offering vegan options on their menus but many still aren’t satisfied. One of the issues is that the healthy options are not made with organic items some are made with processed ingredients. Our liberty to work and choose what we eat is very limited. Our food choices are only widened if our wallets widen too. Another reason is the mass quantities of food we produce,

 “Fundamental tension between the logic of nature and the logic of human industry” (Pollan). This means producing mass amounts of food, we are putting limitations on the amount of food earth can produce. Many of the health and environmental problems we are facing are because of humans. Although we became more efficient in providing food for ourselves, there is tension between human desire and how able the earth is to provide at such a high capacity.  We have found a way to push nature and use it as we please. We took its original purpose and changed its role.

            Pollan states that a modern supermarket is a fluorescent-lit, climate-controlled, and sterile and it doesn’t seem to be a place full of nature. “However, it’s a manmade landscape with incredible biodiversity—a cornucopia of different kinds of produce, meats, and processed foods (such as cereals, Pop-Tarts, and non-dairy creamers) that are derived from innumerable plant and animal species that occupy different positions on the food chain” (Pollan). We have found a way to create our nature when the real thing isn’t available. The individual would be free to exert autonomy over life that would be his or her own (Pollan 5). Marcuse makes a statement about an individual making choices over one’s life or others if you read closely. Can we say the same for our food chain?  We have changed the way food was once meant to be an altered it to our benefit and loss of others.

Works Cited

Marcuse, Herbert. One-Dimensional Man. New York: Routledge Classics, 2002.

Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.