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Why don’t we eat people? (classic)

February 20, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The modern concept and term 'cannibal' likely originated from Christopher Columbus's misinterpretation and subsequent political use of the term 'Carib' to justify enslavement in the Americas. 
  • The taboo against cannibalism, while seemingly universal and instinctual, is largely culturally transmitted, as evidenced by the Foray people's practice of endocannibalism as an act of love and respect, which inadvertently spread the prion disease Kuru. 
  • The discussion highlights the tension between rational moral frameworks (like consent) and powerful, seemingly hardwired moral intuitions (taboos), suggesting that some taboos, even if superstitious, may serve protective functions, such as preventing disease transmission (as seen with Kuru). 
  • The hosts sampled savory pastries from the highly recommended Brooklyn bakery Otway, which is located in the Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy area. 
  • The anxiety of being commanded to enjoy something highly anticipated was compared to a quote attributed to the philosopher Žižek regarding the command "enjoy." 
  • The hosts recommended Tart Vinegar, made by Chris Crawford, noting that the product is not local to Brooklyn and that the endorsements for both Otway and Tart Vinegar are not paid promotions for the podcast *Search Engine*. 

Segments

Introduction and Otto’s Question
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode re-airs a favorite segment prompted by a four-year-old’s question about eating human heads, which the host’s mother (Hannah Goldfield) found difficult to explain beyond stating it is a fundamental taboo.
  • Summary: The episode opens by noting National Cherry Pie Day and Muffin Day, leading into the re-airing of an episode about food consumption rules. Four-year-old Otto asked his mother why humans do not eat human heads, leading the mother to realize the difficulty in articulating the rationale behind the cannibalism taboo. The host notes that the taboo is so strong that it becomes hard to even explain why it exists.
Taboo vs. Logic
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(00:07:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The strength of a true taboo lies in its existence being almost unacknowledged, operating beyond simple rules or rational explanation.
  • Summary: The host and guest discuss whether ’taboo’ is a strong enough word for cannibalism, suggesting true taboos are those whose existence is rarely questioned or explained. Otto quickly backed off the topic once he realized it was taboo, indicating the cultural rule had immediate sticking power for him. The inherent conflict between logic and the visceral reaction to taboo is noted.
Cartoon Cannibal Stereotype
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(00:07:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The common cartoon image of a cannibal (loincloth, bone necklace, iron pot) is a Western construct likely stemming from historical encounters and media.
  • Summary: The host researched cannibalism online and noted the immediate cartoon image associated with the word. This image involves a ‘savage’ wearing bones and cooking an explorer in a cauldron. The guest suggests that if synthetic, harmless human steak were available, he would try it out of curiosity.
Cultural Food Disgust
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(00:12:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Disgust toward certain foods is culturally learned, not purely hardwired, as evidenced by vegetarian cultures finding meat repulsive, similar to how some find balut repulsive.
  • Summary: A newer cultural politeness suggests not being disgusted by other cultures’ foods, but nearly every culture has its own ‘gross’ items. In India, many vegetarians react to eating chicken with the same visceral disgust a Westerner might feel toward balut (fertilized duck egg). Disgust feels hardwired but is often culturally transmitted, as Otto had to learn the rule against eating people.
Columbus and Carib Origin Story
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(00:20:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The modern Western concept of the cannibal stereotype originated around 1493 when Columbus reported that the Carib people ate human flesh, which Queen Isabella then used to justify enslaving them.
  • Summary: The term ‘cannibal’ likely derives from the mistranslation of ‘Carib’ following Columbus’s second voyage. Columbus categorized the Arawaks as governable but warned of the fierce Caribs who might eat his men. Queen Isabella subsequently permitted the enslavement of anyone labeled a cannibal, creating an incentive structure to apply the label broadly to resistants.
Medical Cannibalism Irony
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(00:25:46)
  • Key Takeaway: While Europeans condemned the ritual cannibalism of the Caribs, they simultaneously practiced ‘medical cannibalism’ by consuming ground-up human mummies for purported health benefits.
  • Summary: The Europeans were practicing medical cannibalism, consuming ‘mummia’ made from powdered Egyptian mummies, which was a valuable commodity. When the supply of mummies ran out, recipes emerged in the 17th century detailing how to prepare recently hanged corpses, specifically red-headed men, for consumption. This highlights an irony where the colonizers condemned one form of cannibalism while practicing another.
Survival Cannibalism Exception
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(00:30:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Survival cannibalism (like the Donner Party or the Uruguayan rugby team) is generally accepted as an exception to the taboo, but survivors remain infamous for the act.
  • Summary: Survival cannibalism is an exception where the rule is: if starving and people are dead, eating them is permissible. However, this act permanently marks the survivors, using the cannibalism to judge the severity of the terrible circumstances they endured. The Donner Party’s predicament was exacerbated by following a dangerous, untested shortcut promoted by a huckster’s guidebook.
The German Cannibal Trial
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(00:35:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The trial of Armin Meiwes, who killed and ate a consenting man, forced German law to explicitly define murder as including acts done for sexual gratification, leading to a life sentence.
  • Summary: Armin Meiwes was initially convicted of manslaughter for killing a man who consented to be eaten, receiving only eight years. Prosecutors successfully argued for a retrial by emphasizing the video evidence showed the act was for sexual gratification, which constitutes murder under German law. This case tested the legal limits of consent regarding extreme acts, ultimately reinforcing the taboo against cannibalism through criminal law.
Foray Kuru and Endocannibalism
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(00:44:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The Foray people practiced endocannibalism (eating their own dead) out of love and respect, but this ritual spread Kuru, a fatal prion disease transmitted through consuming brain tissue.
  • Summary: The Foray people of Papua New Guinea practiced funerary consumption, often reserving the head and brain for women, viewing it as a respectful way to honor the deceased and protect their spirit. Anthropologists discovered this practice was the vector for Kuru, a neurological disease caused by infectious brain proteins that could lie dormant for decades. The Foray eventually stopped the practice not because it was morally wrong, but because it was causing widespread death.
Pastry Sampling and Selection
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(01:00:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Three distinct pastries were offered for sampling: a ham and cheese croissant with mustard, a sesame kunamon, and a sun choke mushroom cheesy Danish.
  • Summary: The sampling included a savory option, the sun choke mushroom cheesy Danish, which was chosen first. One participant expressed difficulty pronouncing ‘kunamon’ confidently. The pastries were sourced from a specific local bakery.
Otway Bakery Endorsement
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(01:00:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The bakery Otway, located in the Brooklyn Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy area, received strong positive reinforcement from both the host and a listener.
  • Summary: Otway is spelled O-T-W-A-Y and is described as magnificent by the host. The pressure to enjoy the pastry was noted, referencing the philosopher Žižek’s idea that ’enjoy’ is an anxiety-producing command. The savory pastry was highly praised, resembling a ‘croissant pizza.’
Vinegar Recommendation
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(01:02:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Tart Vinegar, made by Chris Crawford in a small Brooklyn factory, is recommended, specifically the salad and soup variety.
  • Summary: The vinegar is described as tasting pleasant enough to drink straight or mixed with seltzer, though some listeners may believe it has health benefits. Crawford now includes recipes to help consumers utilize the product, which the host frequently gifts.
Podcast Funding and Credits
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(01:01:59)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast Search Engine is funded independently, and the pastry/vinegar recommendations are explicitly not paid endorsements.
  • Summary: The hosts confirmed that the podcast industry is currently struggling, but their funding model does not involve shaking down local businesses for pastry samples. Listeners are encouraged to support the show by subscribing via pjvote.com or by rating and reviewing on Apple Podcasts.