On Abstinence from Animal Food

...overwhelmed original: "perculsus", the first part of which appeared on the previous page by fear regarding those who abstain, as you were once accustomed to say, it seemed to me not only something to be borne with difficulty, but even a cause for indignation and anger. For you have allowed yourselves to be persuaded by such inept and foul little sophistries original: "captiunculis", referring to deceptive or tricky logical arguments, and have thus permitted yourselves to be deceived and to overturn an ancient practice pleasing to the gods.

Wherefore I have decided that I would be doing something worthwhile if I not only confirm our own positions and show them to be as they are, but also if I collect and refute the arguments of our adversaries. These arguments are far stronger than those you have encountered in their abundance, force, and every other preparation. In doing so, I will demonstrate that the truth is not overcome even by those arguments that seem more serious, much less by foul and trivial trifles.

For against abstinence from living beings animatis: literally "ensouled" beings, referring to animals as creatures possessing a "soul" or life-force—a fact of which you are perhaps unaware—not a few have spoken. These include philosophers from the Peripatetics: followers of Aristotle's school, the Stoics: a school emphasizing reason and indifference to external circumstances, and the Epicureans: followers of Epicurus who sought peace through the absence of pain. For the most part, these thinkers directed their opposition against the philosophy of Pythagoras and Empedocles Pythagoras and Empedocles were the most famous early Greek proponents of the idea that animals have souls and should not be eaten, whom you have strived to emulate until now.

Among these opponents were also orators, including a certain Clodius of Naples, who even wrote a book against those who abstain from meat. From all of these sources, I will bring forward those questions which generally concern the matter and this practice; I will omit the others which are directed specifically against the particular proofs of Empedocles. Those, therefore, who contradict this practice claim immediately that justice is thrown into confusion and that "the immovable is moved" A Greek proverbial expression for upsetting fundamental laws or principles if law...