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I've been trying to figure out whether there's a philosophy or worldview that informs paleo dieting and the paleo culture growing around this dietary regimen. If you had to write out your paleo philosophy, what would it be? Are there principles that you consider inseparable from paleo?

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Despite appearances otherwise, I see paleo as being incredibly individualistic. It's not one-size-fits-all, it's something that must be fit to one's individual needs/goals.

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 No need for me to type an answer; you covered it. – Nance Jan 8 2012 at 22:29
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 Wait, that wasn't very individualistic, was it? Oh, well. :-)) – Nance Jan 8 2012 at 22:58
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 Well said, Matt. The individual flexibility within the community is what I love so much about it. – Kate Jan 9 2012 at 2:54
As a philosophy though that really shouldn't be the defining characteristic. Despite appearance otherwise, that's not what Paleo is. – AndyM Jan 9 2012 at 10:51
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 I guess that speaks my left-libertarian worldview. Rabid individualism, doing what's best for you while not harming others around you. Hence you have an individually optimized diet, based upon ethically and sustainably grown food. – Matt Jan 9 2012 at 12:42
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I got into Paleo for the nutrition and it has opened up a new world for me. It has led me to look at the world with the understanding that we were designed to thrive in small egalitarian hunter-gatherer societies. I like that this worldview can shed light on many of modern societies' problems including physical health, mental health, divorce (Sex At Dawn is a great book!!), wars, materialism, overpopulation...etc.

I have also recently gotten more interested in Tao and Zen philosophies. I am learning the importance of a simple life and the insignificance of wealth, status, and power. Paleo has been great from the nutrition aspect but the new way of thinking Paleo has led me to has been incredible.

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So then because the diet works, you start looking at other aspects of a paleolithic lifestyle that might also work for you? If the idea informing the Paleo diet is to eat what we were designed to eat, then is a paleo philosophy something along the lines of "Do what you were designed to do?" And if so, where do we draw the line? – John Michael Jan 9 2012 at 17:50

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