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meat
January 2009 
Socratic Vegetarianism
Posted on Jan 20th, 2009
by 
L'el
L'el
Today I learned that Socrates was in favor of vegetarianism. In Book II of Plato's Republic, he posits the structure and customs of an ideal society.
At one point, he describes the vegetarian diet of the people to Glaucon, and states:
"...with such a diet they may be expected to live in peace and health to a good old age, and bequeath a similar diet to their children after them."
Glaucon is skeptical that people would want to life a life as simple as Socrates suggests, and pushes for the inclusion of more luxuries in the societal model, including meat-eating.
Socrates: And there will be animals of many other kinds, if people eat them?
Glaucon: Certainly.
S: And living in this way we shall have much greater need of physicians than before?
G: Much greater.
S: And the country which was enough to support the original inhabitants will be too small now, and not enough?
G: Quite true.
S: Then a slice of our neighbours' land will be wanted by us for pasture and tillage, and they will want a slice of ours, if, like ourselves, they exceed the limit of necessity, and give themselves up to the unlimited accumulation of wealth?
G: That, Socrates, will be inevitable.
S: And so we shall go to war, Glaucon. Shall we not?
G: Most certainly.
*btw: Plato's Republic can be read online at: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
At one point, he describes the vegetarian diet of the people to Glaucon, and states:
"...with such a diet they may be expected to live in peace and health to a good old age, and bequeath a similar diet to their children after them."
Glaucon is skeptical that people would want to life a life as simple as Socrates suggests, and pushes for the inclusion of more luxuries in the societal model, including meat-eating.
Socrates: And there will be animals of many other kinds, if people eat them?
Glaucon: Certainly.
S: And living in this way we shall have much greater need of physicians than before?
G: Much greater.
S: And the country which was enough to support the original inhabitants will be too small now, and not enough?
G: Quite true.
S: Then a slice of our neighbours' land will be wanted by us for pasture and tillage, and they will want a slice of ours, if, like ourselves, they exceed the limit of necessity, and give themselves up to the unlimited accumulation of wealth?
G: That, Socrates, will be inevitable.
S: And so we shall go to war, Glaucon. Shall we not?
G: Most certainly.
*btw: Plato's Republic can be read online at: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
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