Here you do have forests, where pigs could be raised by letting them root about in the forests for a good part of the year. Therefore, you have a different attitude toward them compared with what continues to exist in the Middle East.
Marvin Harris, an American anthropologist, shares his observation about the difference in pig farming practices between Europe and the Middle East. He notes that in Europe, pigs are raised in forests, allowing them to root around for a significant portion of the year, which influences the attitude towards pigs in these regions.
Harris highlights the significance of environmental factors in shaping human attitudes and practices, particularly in the context of animal husbandry.
The quote likely dates back to the 1960s or 1970s, when Harris was actively conducting research and publishing his findings on cultural and ecological aspects of human societies.
Marvin Harris was a prominent American anthropologist, known for his work on cultural materialism and his critiques of functionalism and structuralism. He was a professor at Columbia University and published numerous books and articles on anthropology and related fields.
Harris' observation on pig farming practices can be seen as a metaphor for the impact of environmental factors on human societies and cultures. It highlights the importance of considering the interplay between humans and their environment in understanding cultural practices and attitudes.
While Harris' work was influential in the field of anthropology, some critics have argued that his cultural materialism approach was too narrow and did not fully account for the complexities of human cultures and societies.