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Porphyry: On Abstinence from Killing Animals

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Porphyry: On Abstinence from Killing Animals
Authors and Contributors      Translated by Gillian Clark
SeriesAncient Commentators on Aristotle
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:222
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 156
Category/GenreWestern philosophy - Ancient to c 500
Ethics and moral philosophy
ISBN/Barcode 9781780938899
ClassificationsDewey:179.3
Audience
General
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational

Publishing Details

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publication Date 10 April 2014
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Porphyry's On Abstinence from Killing Animals is one of the most interesting books from Greek antiquity for both philosophers and historians. In it, Porphyry relates the arguments for eating or sacrificing animals and then goes on to argue that an understanding of humans and gods shows such sacrifice to be inappropriate, that an understanding of animals shows it to be unjust, and that a knowledge of non-Greeks shows it to be unnecessary. There are no Neoplatonist commentaries on Aristotle's Ethics from the period AD 250-600. Thus, although this work is not a commentary on Aristotle, it fills a gap in this series by going to the heart of ethical debates among Neoplatonists around AD 300, and revealing one ascetic Neoplatonist's view of the ideal way of life. It also records rival positions taken on the treatment of animals by Greek philosophers over the previous six hundred years.

Author Biography

Gillian Clark is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Liverpool and Professor-elect of Ancient History, University of Bristol.