The Thomistic Institute Honorable Festivity: An Oxymoron? | Prof. Michael Foley
Nov 27, 2024
Michael Foley, a Catholic theologian and Professor of Patristics at Baylor University, dives into the concept of 'honorable festivity.' He discusses how dining transcends mere sustenance, linking it to cultural and divine significance through the Eucharist. Foley also highlights modern challenges like the decline of family meals and ethical dilemmas in agriculture, advocating for personal engagement and charity. He explores the moral complexities of food consumption, emphasizing gratitude and respect in our eating practices.
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Honorable Festivity: An Oxymoron?
- Festivity often evokes images of excess and lack of decorum, while honor is associated with doing right, potentially without enjoyment.
- This creates a perceived contradiction, like Plato's physical appetites versus spiritedness, making honorable festivity seem like oil and water.
The Human Transformation of Appetite
- Humans transform basic biological acts, like eating, into dramatic, artistic experiences.
- We elevate dining through spatial separation, elaborate equipment, manners, and adult conventions, turning our living into a work of art.
The Tension of the Shareable and Unshareable
- Eating is inherently unshareable; the more you share, the less there is for each individual.
- Feasting conventions yoke this unshareable act to shareable goods like conversation and wisdom.
