Greek philosophers and vegetarianism?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I made a reservation for a group of vegetarians at a Greek

restaurant, and they told me that Greeks invented vegetarianism. I

had seen some quotes by Greek philosophers about vegetarianism, so I

knew it was a popular choice, but what she said intrigued me. Does

anyone have information about the roots of vegetarianism, perhaps

predating the Greek philosophers? I'd also be interested in anything

I could read about Greece and the logic they used to come to the

conclusion that vegetarianism was the way to go. I figured there

were plenty of people on this list who could offer some interesting

insights, and it would be fun to discuss this topic at this dinner.

 

Thanks!

Cheryl

 

Here are some links I quickly found on the internet.

 

Quotes from Greek philosophers: Socrates, Plutarch, Plato, and

Pythagoras (deemed " father of vegetarianism " )

 

http://www.gentleworld.org/philosophers.html

 

http://www.gentleworld.org/VEGAN/you_are_not_alone.htm

 

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" Throughout human history, advocates of vegetarianism have employed

moral and spiritual arguments to express their disdain for eating

the flesh of animals. Ancient writers such as Ovid and Plutarch

deplored the killing of innocent creatures for food. Plutarch

stated: " I am astonished to think what appetite first induced man to

taste of a dead carcass or what motive could suggest the notion of

nourishing himself with the flesh of animals which he saw, just

before, bleating, bellowing, walking, and looking about them. " The

Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who lived towards the end of the 6th

century BC, argued that the flesh of beasts contaminated and

brutalized the soul. In recognition of Pythagoras' commitment,

vegetarians were known as Pythagoreans until the mid-19th century. "

 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=diet & dbid=6

 

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An interesting article on the history of human development and meat

consumption:

 

" The man considered to be the " father " of vegetarianism was a sixth-

century-B.C. Greek philosopher named Pythagoras. Pythagoras, born

approximately 580 B.C., was also a brilliant mathematician and

theorist, and is perhaps best known as the discoverer of the

Pythagorean Theorem and many other mathematical ideas. He believed

that the Earth moved around the sun, not yet proven in his day, and

founded a society that thought meat-eating was taboo. He contended

that a vegetarian lifestyle was the most natural and healthiest

around. In fact, thanks to Pythagoras, the " real " vegetarian

movement started in ancient Greece.

 

Pythagoras was able to convince many other important Greek

philosophers, including Socrates and Plato, that vegetarianism was

the best way to eat. Many future vegetarians, including George

Bernard Shaw and Dr. J.H. Kellogg, were greatly influenced by the

progressive Greek philosopher. In fact, the term vegetarian was not

used to describe non-meat eaters until the late nineteenth century.

Until that time, people on a meatless diet were called

Pythagoreans. "

 

http://groups.msn.com/CrazyVegan/yourwebpage.msnw