I Drink Therefore I Am: A Philosopher's Guide to Wine »

The ancients had a solution to the alcohol problem: to wrap the drug in religious rituals, to treat it as the incarnation of a god and to marginalise disruptive behaviour. Gradually, under the discipline of ritual, prayer and theology, wine was tamed from its orgiastic origins to become a solemn libation to the Olympians and then the Christian Eucharist.

But today we are familiar with the medical opinion that a daily glass of wine is good for the health as well as the rival opinion that a glass or two will set us on the road to ruin. In Roger Scruton's opinion, these health fascists have poisoned a natural enjoyment. Scruton argues that while wine is an excellent accompaniment to food, it is even better with philosophy. By thinking with wine, you can learn to drink in thoughts and think in draughts.

This is a good humoured book with many profound ideas at its core. In vino veritas.

1 Prelude 1

Pt. 1 I Drink

2 My Fall 9

3 Le Tour de France 29

4 News from Elsewhere 69

Pt. 2 Therefore I Am

5 Consciousness and Being 95

6 The Meaning of Wine 117

7 The Meaning of Whine 139

8 Being and Bingeing 165

Appendix What to Drink With What 175

Index of Subjects 199

Index of Names 203

Index of Wines 209