Article on the change in land-human relationships in Central Appalachia through the lens of the coal economy and food. The coal energy economy was not only made possible through various technological innovations in production and consumption, but also by certain social relations and political structures. In spite of the rapid disintegration of the coal economy, the popularity of the slogan “Coal Feeds My Family" still remains.

This article is published as part of a collection on the future of research assessment. It explores the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle concerning the impact agenda and how philosophy can assist policy questions. Together, their work suggests that policy-sensitive philosophers can help decision makers be more self-conscious about the assumptions underlying their work.