CNE/PHL 371        Study Guide for Exam on Porphyry, On Abstinence from Killing Animals         Dr Stephens        Fall 2002

1. Who was Porphyry?  When did he live?  Where was he from?
2. When was On Abstinence written?  To whom was it addressed?  Who was the addressee?  Why did Porphyry write the book to send it to him?
3. Who was the teacher of the circle of philosophers of which Porphyry was a member?  What great philosopher did these guys follow in the tradition of?
4. Which two Presocratic philosophers were vegetarians?
5. Which schools of philosophy were opposed to vegetarianism?

On Abstinence from Killing Animals, Book 1

The Stoic & Peripatetic arguments:
6. Explain the Argument from the Confusion of Justice (1.4.1-4).
7. Explain the Argument from the Reciprocity of Justice (1.6.1).
8. Explain the Argument from Natural Need (1.6.2).
9. Explain the Plants-have-souls-too Argument (1.6.3).

The Epicurean argument:
10. Explain the Argument from Legal Genealogy (1.7-12).

Ordinary people's arguments:
11. Explain the Argument from Cooking with Fire (1.13).
12. Explain the Just War Argument (1.14.1-2).
13. Explain the Neither-bodily-nor-psychic-harm Argument (1.15.1-2).
14. Explain the Overpopulation reductio ad absurdum Argument (1.16).
15. Explain the Argument from the Loss of Medicine (1.17).
16. Explain the Argument from Souls' Speedy Return to Human Bodies (1.19.1-2).
17. Explain the Mortality-Immortality (constructive dilemma) Argument (1.19.3-1.20.1).
18. Explain the Animals-produce-for-us Argument (1.21).
19. Explain the (hypothetical syllogism) Argument from Forced Cannibalism (1.24).
20. Explain the Vegetarians-make-useless-soldiers Argument (1.26).

Porphyry's Counterarguments:
21. To whom does Porphyry say his discourse is directed, that is, who is his intended audience? (1.27)
22. What does he say about sleep and wakefulness? (1.27.2-1.28)
23. Explain in what ways Porphyry's philosophy is ELITIST.
24. What does Porphyry's philosophy have in common with Stoicism?  What does it have in common with Epicureanism?
25. Explain the Words-are-not-enough Argument (1.29).
26. Explain the Alienation Argument by Analogy (1.30.2-4).
27. Describe Porphyry's imagery of stripping off many tunics to compete in the Olympics of the soul (1.31.3-4).
28. Explain his views about detachment from deeds and detachment from desires and inclinations.
29. Describe his account of how the descent is caused.
30. Give examples of things which inflame the passions, according to P. (1.33.6-1.34).
31. What does P. say about paying attention? (1.41.5).
32. Explain meat-eaters' The Rule of the Sea Argument by Analogy (1.42.2-3).  How does Porphyry reply to this argument?
33. What is Porphyry's view on sex? (1.41.4).
34. What all does P. urge abstention from and why?
35. Explain the Argument that Meat is Better Neither for the Body Nor for the Soul (1.51.5-6).
36. How does P. refute the overpopulation argument? (1.53.1).
37. What does P. say about luxury? (1.54.4).
38. Why does P. think simplicity is important? (1.56.1).

On Abstinence from Killing Animals, Book 2

39. What does P. think is the connection between killing animals and eating animals? (2.2.1)
40. What kind of sacrifice to the gods does Porphyry recommend?  What sacrifices did people used to make?
41. Explain the origin of sacrificing animals described by P.