"If you look at the whole range of table manners you notice in different cultures, you should be able to see the similarities. It is not about food only. Table manners evolved together with the development of humanity and its needs.
The table manners across the world are clearly serving three common purposes:
· mere survival of humanity in general and individuals in particular;
· amplification of enjoyment of food consumption; and
· social identification and self-esteem, and in some rather extreme cases like mine, self-actualisation."
You can read more about classification of table manners
- The classification is based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Hence the three major groups analysed in the book are
- “Health and Safety,”
- “The table of joy” and
- “ID rules”, fake and real ones
It is not only table manners changing with time. Some people argue the needs change too. But whether you accept the newly emerging manners as they come or not, you could be sure that they still will serve the old purposes even if with a modern twist to it. Did your mother tell you that the table should be dry when you put your battery on it?
Image source: http://overheard.liketodiscover.com/when-you-know-better-than-abraham-maslow/
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