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Question: 148 [<< | >>]
We must now consider gluttony. Under this head there are six points of
inquiry:
(1) Whether gluttony is a sin?
(2) Whether it is a mortal sin?
(3) Whether it is the greatest of sins?
(4) Its species;
(5) Whether it is a capital sin?
(6) Its daughters.
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Question: 148 [<< | >>]
Article: 1 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that gluttony is not a sin. For our Lord said (Mt. 15:11): "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man." Now
gluttony regards food which goes into a man. Therefore, since every sin
defiles a man, it seems that gluttony is not a sin.
Objection 2: Further, "No man sins in what he cannot avoid" [*Ep. lxxi, ad
Lucin.]. Now gluttony is immoderation in food; and man cannot avoid this,
for Gregory says (Moral. xxx, 18): "Since in eating pleasure and
necessity go together, we fail to discern between the call of necessity
and the seduction of pleasure," and Augustine says (Confess. x, 31): "Who
is it, Lord, that does not eat a little more than necessary?" Therefore
gluttony is not a sin.
Objection 3: Further, in every kind of sin the first movement is a sin. But
the first movement in taking food is not a sin, else hunger and thirst
would be sinful. Therefore gluttony is not a sin.
On the contrary, Gregory says (Moral. xxx, 18) that "unless we first
tame the enemy dwelling within us, namely our gluttonous appetite, we
have not even stood up to engage in the spiritual combat." But man's
inward enemy is sin. Therefore gluttony is a sin.
I answer that, Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking,
but an inordinate desire. Now desire is said to be inordinate through
leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists:
and a thing is said to be a sin through being contrary to virtue.
Wherefore it is evident that gluttony is a sin.
Reply to Objection 1: That which goes into man by way of food, by reason of its
substance and nature, does not defile a man spiritually. But the Jews,
against whom our Lord is speaking, and the Manichees deemed certain foods
to make a man unclean, not on account of their signification, but by
reason of their nature [*Cf. FS, Question [102], Article [6], ad 1]. It is the
inordinate desire of food that defiles a man spiritually.
Reply to Objection 2: As stated above, the vice of gluttony does not regard the
substance of food, but in the desire thereof not being regulated by
reason. Wherefore if a man exceed in quantity of food, not from desire of
food, but through deeming it necessary to him, this pertains, not to
gluttony, but to some kind of inexperience. It is a case of gluttony only
when a man knowingly exceeds the measure in eating, from a desire for the
pleasures of the palate.
Reply to Objection 3: The appetite is twofold. There is the natural appetite,
which belongs to the powers of the vegetal soul. In these powers virtue
and vice are impossible, since they cannot be subject to reason;
wherefore the appetitive power is differentiated from the powers of
secretion, digestion, and excretion, and to it hunger and thirst are to
be referred. Besides this there is another, the sensitive appetite, and
it is in the concupiscence of this appetite that the vice of gluttony
consists. Hence the first movement of gluttony denotes inordinateness in
the sensitive appetite, and this is not without sin.
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Article: 2 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that gluttony is not a mortal sin. For every mortal
sin is contrary to a precept of the Decalogue: and this, apparently, does
not apply to gluttony. Therefore gluttony is not a mortal sin.
Objection 2: Further, every mortal sin is contrary to charity, as stated above
(Question [132], Article [3]). But gluttony is not opposed to charity, neither as
regards the love of God, nor as regards the love of one's neighbor.
Therefore gluttony is never a mortal sin.
Objection 3: Further, Augustine says in a sermon on Purgatory [*Cf. Append. to
St. Augustine's works: Serm. civ (xli, de sanctis)]: "Whenever a man
takes more meat and drink than is necessary, he should know that this is
one of the lesser sins." But this pertains to gluttony. Therefore
gluttony is accounted among the lesser, that is to say venial, sins.
Objection 4: On the contrary, Gregory says (Moral. xxx, 18): "As long as the
vice of gluttony has a hold on a man, all that he has done valiantly is
forfeited by him: and as long as the belly is unrestrained, all virtue
comes to naught." But virtue is not done away save by mortal sin.
Therefore gluttony is a mortal sin.
I answer that, As stated above (Article [1]), the vice of gluttony properly
consists in inordinate concupiscence. Now the order of reason in
regulating the concupiscence may be considered from two points of view.
First, with regard to things directed to the end, inasmuch as they may be
incommensurate and consequently improportionate to the end; secondly,
with regard to the end itself, inasmuch as concupiscence turns man away
from his due end. Accordingly, if the inordinate concupiscence in
gluttony be found to turn man away from the last end, gluttony will be a
mortal sin. This is the case when he adheres to the pleasure of gluttony
as his end, for the sake of which he contemns God, being ready to disobey
God's commandments, in order to obtain those pleasures. On the other
hand, if the inordinate concupiscence in the vice of gluttony be found to
affect only such things as are directed to the end, for instance when a
man has too great a desire for the pleasures of the palate, yet would not
for their sake do anything contrary to God's law, it is a venial sin.
Reply to Objection 1: The vice of gluttony becomes a mortal sin by turning man
away from his last end: and accordingly, by a kind of reduction, it is
opposed to the precept of hallowing the sabbath, which commands us to
rest in our last end. For mortal sins are not all directly opposed to the
precepts of the Decalogue, but only those which contain injustice:
because the precepts of the Decalogue pertain specially to justice and
its parts, as stated above (Question [122], Article [1]).
Reply to Objection 2: In so far as it turns man away from his last end, gluttony
is opposed to the love of God, who is to be loved, as our last end, above
all things: and only in this respect is gluttony a mortal sin.
Reply to Objection 3: This saying of Augustine refers to gluttony as denoting
inordinate concupiscence merely in regard of things directed to the end.
Reply to Objection 4: Gluttony is said to bring virtue to naught, not so much on
its own account, as on account of the vices which arise from it. For
Gregory says (Pastor. iii, 19): "When the belly is distended by gluttony,
the virtues of the soul are destroyed by lust."
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Article: 3 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that gluttony is the greatest of sins. For the
grievousness of a sin is measured by the grievousness of the punishment.
Now the sin of gluttony is most grievously punished, for Chrysostom says
[*Hom. xiii in Matth.]: "Gluttony turned Adam out of Paradise, gluttony
it was that drew down the deluge at the time of Noah." According to
Ezech. 16:49, "This was the iniquity of Sodom, thy sister . . . fulness
of bread," etc. Therefore the sin of gluttony is the greatest of all.
Objection 2: Further, in every genus the cause is the most powerful. Now
gluttony is apparently the cause of other sins, for a gloss on Ps.
135:10, "Who smote Egypt with their first-born," says: "Lust,
concupiscence, pride are the first-born of gluttony." Therefore gluttony
is the greatest of sins.
Objection 3: Further, man should love himself in the first place after God, as
stated above (Question [25], Article [4]). Now man, by the vice of gluttony, inflicts an
injury on himself: for it is written (Ecclus. 37:34): "By surfeiting many
have perished." Therefore gluttony is the greatest of sins, at least
excepting those that are against God.
On the contrary, The sins of the flesh, among which gluttony is
reckoned, are less culpable according to Gregory (Moral. xxxiii).
I answer that, The gravity of a sin may be measured in three ways. First and foremost it depends on the matter in which the sin is committed: and in this way sins committed in connection with Divine things are the greatest. From this point of view gluttony is not the greatest sin, for it is about matters connected with the nourishment of the body. Secondly, the gravity of a sin depends on the person who sins, and from this point of view the sin of gluttony is diminished rather than aggravated, both on account of the necessity of taking food, and on account of the difficulty of proper discretion and moderation in such matters. Thirdly, from the point of view of the result that follows, and in this way gluttony has a certain gravity, inasmuch as certain sins are occasioned thereby.
Reply to Objection 1: These punishments are to be referred to the vices that
resulted from gluttony, or to the root from which gluttony sprang, rather
than to gluttony itself. For the first man was expelled from Paradise on
account of pride, from which he went on to an act of gluttony: while the
deluge and the punishment of the people of Sodom were inflicted for sins
occasioned by gluttony.
Reply to Objection 2: This objection argues from the standpoint of the sins that
result from gluttony. Nor is a cause necessarily more powerful, unless it
be a direct cause: and gluttony is not the direct cause but the
accidental cause, as it were, and the occasion of other vices.
Reply to Objection 3: The glutton intends, not the harm to his body, but the
pleasure of eating: and if injury results to his body, this is
accidental. Hence this does not directly affect the gravity of gluttony,
the guilt of which is nevertheless aggravated, if a man incur some bodily
injury through taking too much food.
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Question: 148 [<< | >>]
Article: 4 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It seems that the species of gluttony are unfittingly
distinguished by Gregory who says (Moral. xxx, 18): "The vice of gluttony
tempts us in five ways. Sometimes it forestalls the hour of need;
sometimes it seeks costly meats; sometimes it requires the food to be
daintily cooked; sometimes it exceeds the measure of refreshment by
taking too much; sometimes we sin by the very heat of an immoderate
appetite"---which are contained in the following verse: "Hastily,
sumptuously, too much, greedily, daintily."
For the above are distinguished according to diversity of circumstance.
Now circumstances, being the accidents of an act, do not differentiate
its species. Therefore the species of gluttony are not distinguished
according to the aforesaid.
Objection 2: Further, as time is a circumstance, so is place. If then gluttony
admits of one species in respect of time, it seems that there should
likewise be others in respect of place and other circumstances.
Objection 3: Further, just as temperance observes due circumstances, so do the
other moral virtues. Now the species of the vices opposed to the other
moral virtues are not distinguished according to various circumstances.
Neither, therefore, are the species of gluttony distinguished thus.
On the contrary, stands the authority of Gregory quoted above.
I answer that, As stated above (Article [1]), gluttony denotes inordinate
concupiscence in eating. Now two things are to be considered in eating,
namely the food we eat, and the eating thereof. Accordingly, the
inordinate concupiscence may be considered in two ways. First, with
regard to the food consumed: and thus, as regards the substance or
species of food a man seeks "sumptuous"---i.e. costly food; as regards
its quality, he seeks food prepared too nicely---i.e. "daintily"; and as
regards quantity, he exceeds by eating "too much."
Secondly, the inordinate concupiscence is considered as to the
consumption of food: either because one forestalls the proper time for
eating, which is to eat "hastily," or one fails to observe the due manner
of eating, by eating "greedily."
Isidore [*De Summo Bon. ii, 42] comprises the first and second under one
heading, when he says that the glutton exceeds in "what" he eats, or in
"how much," "how" or "when he eats."
Reply to Objection 1: The corruption of various circumstances causes the various
species of gluttony, on account of the various motives, by reason of
which the species of moral things are differentiated. For in him that
seeks sumptuous food, concupiscence is aroused by the very species of the
food; in him that forestalls the time concupiscence is disordered through
impatience of delay, and so forth.
Reply to Objection 2: Place and other circumstances include no special motive
connected with eating, that can cause a different species of gluttony.
Reply to Objection 3: In all other vices, whenever different circumstances
correspond to different motives, the difference of circumstances argues a
specific difference of vice: but this does not apply to all
circumstances, as stated above (FS, Question [72], Article [9]).
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Question: 148 [<< | >>]
Article: 5 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that gluttony is not a capital vice. For capital
vices denote those whence, under the aspect of final cause, other vices
originate. Now food, which is the matter of gluttony, has not the aspect
of end, since it is sought, not for its own sake, but for the body's
nourishment. Therefore gluttony is not a capital vice.
Objection 2: Further, a capital vice would seem to have a certain pre-eminence
in sinfulness. But this does not apply to gluttony, which, in respect of
its genus, is apparently the least of sins, seeing that it is most akin
to what is in respect of its genus, is apparently the least gluttony is
not a capital vice.
Objection 3: Further, sin results from a man forsaking the food of virtue on
account of something useful to the present life, or pleasing to the
senses. Now as regards goods having the aspect of utility, there is but
one capital vice, namely covetousness. Therefore, seemingly, there would
be but one capital vice in respect of pleasures: and this is lust, which
is a greater vice than gluttony, and is about greater pleasures.
Therefore gluttony is not a capital vice.
On the contrary, Gregory (Moral. xxxi, 45) reckons gluttony among the
capital vices.
I answer that, As stated above (FS, Question [84], Article [3]), a capital vice denotes
one from which, considered as final cause, i.e. as having a most
desirable end, other vices originate: wherefore through desiring that end
men are incited to sin in many ways. Now an end is rendered most
desirable through having one of the conditions of happiness which is
desirable by its very nature: and pleasure is essential to happiness,
according to Ethic. i, 8; x, 3,7,8. Therefore the vice of gluttony, being
about pleasures of touch which stand foremost among other pleasures, is
fittingly reckoned among the capital vices.
Reply to Objection 1: It is true that food itself is directed to something as its
end: but since that end, namely the sustaining of life, is most desirable
and whereas life cannot be sustained without food, it follows that food
too is most desirable: indeed, nearly all the toil of man's life is
directed thereto, according to Eccles. 6:7, "All the labor of man is for
his mouth." Yet gluttony seems to be about pleasures of food rather than
about food itself; wherefore, as Augustine says (De Vera Relig. liii),
"with such food as is good for the worthless body, men desire to be fed,"
wherein namely the pleasure consists, "rather than to be filled: since
the whole end of that desire is this---not to thirst and not to hunger."
Reply to Objection 2: In sin the end is ascertained with respect to the
conversion, while the gravity of sin is determined with regard to the
aversion. Wherefore it does not follow that the capital sin which has the
most desirable end surpasses the others in gravity.
Reply to Objection 3: That which gives pleasure is desirable in itself: and
consequently corresponding to its diversity there are two capital vices,
namely gluttony and lust. On the other hand, that which is useful is
desirable, not in itself, but as directed to something else: wherefore
seemingly in all useful things there is one aspect of desirability. Hence
there is but one capital vice, in respect of such things.
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Question: 148 [<< | >>]
Article: 6 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that six daughters are unfittingly assigned to
gluttony, to wit, "unseemly joy, scurrility, uncleanness, loquaciousness,
and dullness of mind as regards the understanding." For unseemly joy
results from every sin, according to Prov. 2:14, "Who are glad when they
have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things." Likewise dullness of
mind is associated with every sin, according to Prov. 14:22, "They err
that work evil." Therefore they are unfittingly reckoned to be daughters
of gluttony.
Objection 2: Further, the uncleanness which is particularly the result of
gluttony would seem to be connected with vomiting, according to Is. 28:8,
"All tables were full of vomit and filth." But this seems to be not a sin
but a punishment; or even a useful thing that is a matter of counsel,
according to Ecclus. 31:25, "If thou hast been forced to eat much, arise,
go out, and vomit; and it shall refresh thee." Therefore it should not be
reckoned among the daughters of gluttony.
Objection 3: Further, Isidore (Questions. in Deut. xvi) reckons scurrility as a
daughter of lust. Therefore it should not be reckoned among the daughters
of gluttony.
On the contrary, Gregory (Moral. xxxi, 45) assigns these daughters to
gluttony.
I answer that, As stated above (Articles [1],2,3), gluttony consists properly
in an immoderate pleasure in eating and drinking. Wherefore those vices
are reckoned among the daughters of gluttony, which are the results of
eating and drinking immoderately. These may be accounted for either on
the part of the soul or on the part of the body. on the part of the soul
these results are of four kinds. First, as regards the reason, whose
keenness is dulled by immoderate meat and drink, and in this respect we
reckon as a daughter of gluttony, "dullness of sense in the
understanding," on account of the fumes of food disturbing the brain.
Even so, on the other hand, abstinence conduces to the penetrating power
of wisdom, according to Eccles. 2:3, "I thought in my heart to withdraw
my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind in wisdom." Secondly, as
regards the. appetite, which is disordered in many ways by immoderation
in eating and drinking, as though reason were fast asleep at the helm,
and in this respect "unseemly joy" is reckoned, because all the other
inordinate passions are directed to joy or sorrow, as stated in Ethic.
ii, 5. To this we must refer the saying of 3 Esdra 3:20, that "wine . . .
gives every one a confident and joyful mind." Thirdly, as regards
inordinate words, and thus we have "loquaciousness," because as Gregory
says (Pastor. iii, 19), "unless gluttons were carried away by immoderate
speech, that rich man who is stated to have feasted sumptuously every day
would not have been so tortured in his tongue." Fourthly, as regards
inordinate action, and in this way we have "scurrility," i.e. a kind of
levity resulting from lack of reason, which is unable not only to bridle
the speech, but also to restrain outward behavior. Hence a gloss on Eph.
5:4, "Or foolish talking or scurrility," says that "fools call this
geniality---i.e. jocularity, because it is wont to raise a laugh." Both
of these, however, may be referred to the words which may happen to be
sinful, either by reason of excess which belongs to "loquaciousness," or
by reason of unbecomingness, which belongs to "scurrility."
On the part of the body, mention is made of "uncleanness," which may
refer either to the inordinate emission of any kind of superfluities, or
especially to the emission of the semen. Hence a gloss on Eph. 5:3, "But
fornication and all uncleanness," says: "That is, any kind of
incontinence that has reference to lust."
Reply to Objection 1: Joy in the act or end of sin results from every sin,
especially the sin that proceeds from habit, but the random riotous joy
which is described as "unseemly" arises chiefly from immoderate partaking
of meat or drink. In like manner, we reply that dullness of sense as
regards matters of choice is common to all sin, whereas dullness of sense
in speculative matters arises chiefly from gluttony, for the reason given
above.
Reply to Objection 2: Although it does one good to vomit after eating too much,
yet it is sinful to expose oneself to its necessity by immoderate meat or
drink. However, it is no sin to procure vomiting as a remedy for sickness
if the physician prescribes it.
Reply to Objection 3: Scurrility proceeds from the act of gluttony, and not from
the lustful act, but from the lustful will: wherefore it may be referred
to either vice.