Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol. VI. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1895.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a philosophical treatise that questions the ethical and physical unnaturalness of human flesh-eating. The author begins by addressing those who view Pythagorean vegetarianism with astonishment, arguing that while flesh-eating was inevitable during ancient times of scarcity, it constitutes unnecessary slaughter in today's age of abundance. He points out that the human anatomical structure is not naturally suited for eating meat, and exposes the contradiction of using seasonings to mask the cruelty of the act. Furthermore, he warns that a meat-based diet dulls both the body and the soul, depriving humans of mental clarity. Ultimately, he argues that abstaining from meat fosters a habit of benevolence and links this practice to ancient, profound doctrines such as the transmigration of souls and mythical punishments.