Vegetarianism was actualized in Western culture at the turn of the seventeenth century. This cultural phenomenon is primarily associated with the names of Thomas Tryon, George Cheyne and Joseph Ritson. In their works the benefits of plant foods are substantiated both for the individual and for the formation of a harmonious society. This review examines the phenomenon of vegetarianism and its cultural context. Special attention is paid to theEnglish physician George Cheyne who popularized the plant-based diet in his medical treatises. The influence of his ideas on the works of Joseph Ritson and Percy Bysshe Shelley is considered.
Keywords
vegetarianism; George Cheyne; Thomas Tryon; Joseph Ritson; Percy Bysshe Shelley; romanticism; Enlightenment.
