Synonyms
Introduction
Gluttony describes either (a) the action of overindulging in food or drink or (b) a state of character in which one regularly overindulges in food and/or drink. Gluttony is recognized by most moral and ethical codes, except for the most ardently hedonistic, as a moral failing. While the term “gluttony” has etymological roots in Latin and Old French, the moral assessment of gluttony, in the Western world, goes as far back as the Ancient Greeks. Presented here is a brief historical sketch of the concept of gluttony as understood in the Western world. Changing conceptions of gluttony will be traced from Ancient Greek philosophers through the Judeo-Christian understanding of gluttony as a sin and to the way that gluttony has become intimately connected to moral judgments of fatness.
Ancient Greek Views on Gluttony
Plato (427–347 BCE) and Aristotle (384–322 BCE) are undeniably the most...
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References
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Smith, T. (2013). Gluttony. In: Thompson, P., Kaplan, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_292-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_292-1
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