Final answer:
Marvin Harris posited that the Hindu taboo against eating beef is economically justified, as cows provide more value alive for agrarian society purposes such as plowing fields and supplying dung for fuel, enhancing the sustainability of resource use.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Marvin Harris, the Hindu taboo against eating beef is okay because it represents not just a religious or spiritual belief, but an economically sound practice within the context of India's agrarian society. Harris, a cultural anthropologist, explored the notion that cattle are more valuable alive than slaughtered early for meat due to their contribution of dung for fuel, traction for plowing fields, milk production, and reproductive capacity. His analysis was presented in his influential study, 'The Cultural Ecology of India's Sacred Cattle,' where he discussed the economic advantages of revering cattle, which aligns with and perhaps even supports the religious practices of Hinduism.
Furthermore, when cattle die of natural causes, their byproducts can still be utilized by lower socioeconomic classes, implying that the religious prohibition also promotes a more sustainable and efficient use of resources. Harris' interpretation acknowledges the multifaceted nature of food taboos and demonstrates how cultural, economic, and ecological factors can intertwine with religious practices to shape human behavior.