In this essay I focus on vegetarianism considered simultaneously as an ethical and as a medical practice, arguing that the first aspect cannot be separated in any way from the second one in the story I want to reconstruct, and that has at its centre one of the classical texts discussing the benefits of a vegetarian diet: Porphyry’s De abstinentia ab esu carnium. Medical, ethical and strictly religious themes constantly intertwine in Porphyry’s four books, contributing to construct a concept of vegetarianism which was highly influential. The essay highlights only a specific phase in the reception of Porphyry’s work, that is the influence of this text on its Renaissance editors and translators
Medical and Ethical Aspects of Vegetarianism: On the Reception of Porphyry's De Abstinentia in the Renaissance
Muratori C
2014-01-01
Abstract
In this essay I focus on vegetarianism considered simultaneously as an ethical and as a medical practice, arguing that the first aspect cannot be separated in any way from the second one in the story I want to reconstruct, and that has at its centre one of the classical texts discussing the benefits of a vegetarian diet: Porphyry’s De abstinentia ab esu carnium. Medical, ethical and strictly religious themes constantly intertwine in Porphyry’s four books, contributing to construct a concept of vegetarianism which was highly influential. The essay highlights only a specific phase in the reception of Porphyry’s work, that is the influence of this text on its Renaissance editors and translatorsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
