HOLISTIC LIVING FOR PETS AND PEOPLE

Levels of Judgement

Michio Kushi set out his Seven Levels of Judgement as part of the Macrobiotic philosophy and that offers us a framework for choices in holistic living especially in selecting food for ourselves and our pets. Here we will consider only four levels.
The lowest level is Mechanical.

This is the level at which simple life-forms operate. At this level, selection of food is instinctive and automatic. Anything which can be recognised as food will be consumed. Higher animals, even humans, select food at this level under certain circumstances, e.g. when starving anything will be acceptable. This is the level which is being exercised when we buy food because it is cheap or convenient. This is most common where cost is an important consideration, such as in kennels or catteries or in a household where there is little affection for the pet.

The next level of judgement is Sensory. This is generally the highest level at which most animals can make choices. Decisions are more selective and are based on the senses. Humans rely mainly on the sense of taste whereas dogs and cats rely mainly on their sense of smell. Pet owners often complain that the pet is fussy or prefers a certain brand of food. Pet food manufacturers appeal to this by emphasising how appealing the food is. Think of the adverts – “nine out of ten cats prefer…”

The next level is Intellectual. Here, decisions are more carefully reasoned. Animals cannot reason at this level so we, as human, have to exercise judgement on their behalf. We may avoid certain foods because we think they are potentially unhealthy e.g. they contain artificial ingredients or are high in fat. Or we may have found through experience that our health or that of a pet has been affected by food.

The fourth level of judgement is Social. At this level we are conscious of the impact our choices have on society as a whole. We may purchase locally grown produce to support local business; we may buy Fair Trade products to support Third World producers. Or we may choose free range because of concerns about animal welfare or non genetically modified because of concerns about the environment.

The higher the level of judgement we exercise, the wider the view and the more “holistic” our thinking and life become. Our choices, taken for more holistic reasons will include more than one level of judgement.

For example, we may choose to eat organic food because of the impact on the environment (social), because we think it is better for our health (intellectual) or because we think it tastes better (sensory).

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