The Heretic's Feast: A History of VegetarianismIn this fascinating and informative story of vegetarianism since prehistoric times, Colin Spencer describes the religious, philosophical, and social aspects of vegetarianism, introducing such prominent and often colorful practitioners as Pythagoras, Ovid, Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Thomas More, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Leo Tolstoy, George Bernard Shaw, Gandhi, and Hitler. Though the word "vegetarian" was not coined until the mid-nineteenth century, the meatless diet has been around for as long as people have. Spencer describes the major movements that shared the doctrine as well as the surprisingly diverse moralities, perspectives, and philosophies that motivated them. He shows that vegetarianism, when not forced on humans by poverty, was often just one element in a radical ideology that repeatedly led to the marginalization of vegetarians in our society. This gracefully written and meticulously researched book presents not only a surprising slice through world history but also an unusual story of dissidence and revolt. |
Contents
In the Beginning | 1 |
Toolmakers and Hunters | 30 |
The Pythagorean Enigma Empedocles The Pythagoreans | 68 |
Copyright | |
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abstain abstention from meat animal food arian Aristoxenus Aryan ascetic asceticism Athenaeus beans beasts became become beef began believed blood body Bogomils bread Buddha Buddhist carcase carnivores Cathars cattle century cheese Christian Church civilisation claimed concept consume converted cooked creatures death dietary dishes divine doctrine drink Dukhobors early eat meat eaten Egypt Egyptian Empedocles Epicurus ethical evil farming feast fish flesh flour flourished fruit Gnostic gods Greek heresy heretics Hinduism hominids Homo Homo erectus human humankind hunting ibid ideas influence Jesus kill land later livestock living Manichean Marcion meal meat-eating metempsychosis milk mystical nature never orthodox Paulicians philosophical pigs plants Plato Plotinus Plutarch Porphyry priests Pythagoras Pythagorean Quoted religion religious Rig-Veda ritual sacrifice sects sheep Shelley slaughter soul spirit survive teaching thought tion trans vegan vegetarian movement Vegetarian Society wild wine women writing wrote Zoroaster