Socratic Dialogue
By Plutonix
Characters
Socrates – Timeless philosopher, transported to modern Mauritius.
Sam – A social commentator, lover of briyani and paradoxes.
Socrates: My dear Sam, I must confess something troubling. I have walked through your capital, Port Louis, and observed a great mystery. People speak much of “fitness” and “wellness,” yet everyone seems to be holding a drink the colour of melted sugar, and walking less than a snail on vacation.
Sam: (laughing) Welcome to Mauritius, Socrates. We talk of wellness as we chew. It’s our national philosophy — eat first, regret later.
Socrates: Regret later? Is regret a dessert? For I see much of it in the eyes of those who say, “Tomorrow I start my diet.”
Sam: You catch on quickly. It’s true — obesity is becoming our new national challenge. The press calls it an “urgent public health crisis.” But most people prefer to see it as a personal lifestyle choice, at least until their doctor says, “Your sugar level is higher than your salary.”
Socrates: And what is this “obesity”? I recall no such word in the Agora of Athens.
Sam: It’s a polite way of saying “too heavy for your own good.” The medical people have a formula for it — they call it the Body Mass Index.
Socrates: (scribbling on a napkin) So they divide the body by itself? Ah, this is modern metaphysics!
Sam: Not quite. They divide the weight by the height squared. If the result is over 25, you’re “overweight.” Over 30, you’re “obese.” Over 35, you’re “in denial.”
Socrates: I see. So, numbers now decide virtue and vice. In my time, we measured excess by the number of amphorae of wine consumed at a symposium.
Sam: Our amphorae are called “two-litre soft drinks.” And we share them with as much devotion as you shared your dialogues.
Socrates: Tell me, then, why do people permit their bodies to expand beyond what nature intended? Have they mistaken comfort for happiness?
Sam: Ah, that’s the paradox. We live longer but move less. We eat faster but think slower. The fast-food joint has replaced the philosopher’s portico. People now seek instant satisfaction — not wisdom, just Wi-Fi.
Socrates: So, the gods of your age are named “Delivery App” and “All-You-Can-Eat Buffet”?
Sam: Indeed. And they are merciless gods. But it’s not only about appetite, Socrates. There’s shame too — the public kind. Obesity is mocked, laughed at, even in schools. Yet those who laugh often hide their own soft bellies behind loose T-shirts.
Socrates: (nodding) So the obese are punished twice — once by the body, again by society.
Sam: Exactly. In most cultures, people pretend it’s a moral failure — as if fat were proof of laziness or weakness. Yet in some societies, roundness was once a sign of prosperity. In certain African or Polynesian traditions, it still is.
Socrates: Ah, so in some lands, the fat man is wise and fortunate, while in others he is shamed and whispered about?
Sam: You understand perfectly. In the West, thinness is power; in the developing world, abundance was once prestige. But now global culture has exported the shame. Even in Mauritius, people hide their curves and buy “slimming tea” by the carton.
Socrates: (stroking his beard) How curious! Humanity invents new forms of unhappiness faster than new philosophies.
Sam: Yes — and the tragedy is that while the stigma grows, the problem itself expands. In our country, almost three-quarters of adults are above their “normal” weight.
Socrates: By the gods, seventy out of a hundred?
Sam: Roughly. Men and women alike, though women are slightly ahead. The reasons are many: desk jobs, cars, stress, screens, and the irresistible call of fried noodles at midnight.
Socrates: You speak as if gluttony has joined hands with technology to enslave mankind.
Sam: That’s one way to put it. We no longer need to hunt or farm; food hunts us instead — by delivery, by advertisement, by algorithm.
Socrates: And what of your schools? Do children learn to discipline both mind and body?
Sam: In theory, yes. In practice, they have Physical Education once a week — and half the time, it’s cancelled because of “bad weather” or “missing footballs.” Meanwhile, the canteen sells pastries, and “gateau bringelle” and “gateau pomme de terre” shaped like temptation itself.
Socrates: (raising an eyebrow) And the parents?
Sam: They’re too busy, or too tired. Many work long hours, so they turn to drive-thru meals. You see, Socrates, modern life conspires against moderation.
Socrates: Moderation — the virtue of all virtues! Without it, even wisdom becomes vanity. But tell me, Sam, why is such secrecy and shame around obesity? Would it not be better to face it openly, like any other public concern?
Sam: You’d think so. But body image is wrapped in emotion. People feel exposed, judged, and humiliated. Some even avoid doctors out of embarrassment. The social gaze can be crueler than the illness itself.
Socrates: In Athens, we discussed our flaws in the marketplace — perhaps too loudly! But here, it seems silence has become the preferred exercise.
Sam: (chuckling) True. We exercise restraint more than our limbs. And social media hasn’t helped — filters and “fitspiration” posts make everyone feel inadequate.
Socrates: So even the thin are unhappy! You mortals have found a way to make misery universal.
Sam: Exactly. We live in an age where no one feels good enough. And yet, ironically, everyone keeps eating to feel better.
Socrates: (laughing) You have achieved a perfect philosophical circle: shame leads to eating and eating leads to shame.
Sam: We call it “the Mauritian cycle of comfort.”
Socrates: Tell me then, how does your government respond? Do your rulers promote temperance and health as the ancients once did?
Sam: They try. Doctors urge people to eat more fruit and vegetables and less fried food. But some fruits are expensive, vegetables less glamorous, and jogging in some neighbourhoods feels like a contact sport.
Socrates: And yet, as you say, the problem persists. Perhaps because reason alone cannot conquer appetite.
Sam: That’s your field, Socrates. Convince people to love wisdom more than fast food, and you’ll save the nation.
Socrates: Then let us attempt a small experiment of reason. Suppose I asked a person: “Do you desire health?” He would surely answer yes. Then I ask, “Do you act in ways that promote health?” He might hesitate. So I continue: “If your actions betray your desire, do you truly desire it?”
Sam: And the poor fellow would feel guilty and order another burger out of frustration.
Socrates: (sighs) Modern philosophy indeed requires stronger patience — and smaller portions.
Sam: Then how would you cure this epidemic, Socrates?
Socrates: By replacing shame with curiosity. Instead of asking, “Why am I fat?” ask, “What makes me eat without hunger? What comforts me more — food or fellowship?” For no one who eats in the company of good friends needs a double portion.
Sam: Beautifully said. You’d make an excellent public-health philosopher.
Socrates: Then let us imagine a new Mauritius — one where people walk in parks, not malls; where the only thing “supersized” is conversation.
Sam: And perhaps, a world where people judge less and laugh more.
Socrates: Indeed. For laughter burns calories — though not enough to replace exercise, I’m told.
Sam: (smiling) Then let’s keep laughing — for health, for sanity, for the absurdity of it all.
Socrates: Agreed. And now, dear Sam, shall we walk to the food court — purely for philosophical observation, of course?
Sam: Naturally, Socrates. Observation requires a full stomach.
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 17 October 2025
An Appeal
Dear Reader
65 years ago Mauritius Times was founded with a resolve to fight for justice and fairness and the advancement of the public good. It has never deviated from this principle no matter how daunting the challenges and how costly the price it has had to pay at different times of our history.
With print journalism struggling to keep afloat due to falling advertising revenues and the wide availability of free sources of information, it is crucially important for the Mauritius Times to survive and prosper. We can only continue doing it with the support of our readers.
The best way you can support our efforts is to take a subscription or by making a recurring donation through a Standing Order to our non-profit Foundation.
Thank you.
A Humorous Dialogue on the Expanding Waistline, Shame, and the Mauritian Dilemma
Socratic Dialogue
By Plutonix
Characters
Socrates – Timeless philosopher, transported to modern Mauritius.
Sam – A social commentator, lover of briyani and paradoxes.
Socrates: My dear Sam, I must confess something troubling. I have walked through your capital, Port Louis, and observed a great mystery. People speak much of “fitness” and “wellness,” yet everyone seems to be holding a drink the colour of melted sugar, and walking less than a snail on vacation.
Sam: (laughing) Welcome to Mauritius, Socrates. We talk of wellness as we chew. It’s our national philosophy — eat first, regret later.
Socrates: Regret later? Is regret a dessert? For I see much of it in the eyes of those who say, “Tomorrow I start my diet.”
Sam: You catch on quickly. It’s true — obesity is becoming our new national challenge. The press calls it an “urgent public health crisis.” But most people prefer to see it as a personal lifestyle choice, at least until their doctor says, “Your sugar level is higher than your salary.”
Socrates: And what is this “obesity”? I recall no such word in the Agora of Athens.
Sam: It’s a polite way of saying “too heavy for your own good.” The medical people have a formula for it — they call it the Body Mass Index.
Socrates: (scribbling on a napkin) So they divide the body by itself? Ah, this is modern metaphysics!
Sam: Not quite. They divide the weight by the height squared. If the result is over 25, you’re “overweight.” Over 30, you’re “obese.” Over 35, you’re “in denial.”
Socrates: I see. So, numbers now decide virtue and vice. In my time, we measured excess by the number of amphorae of wine consumed at a symposium.
Sam: Our amphorae are called “two-litre soft drinks.” And we share them with as much devotion as you shared your dialogues.
Socrates: Tell me, then, why do people permit their bodies to expand beyond what nature intended? Have they mistaken comfort for happiness?
Sam: Ah, that’s the paradox. We live longer but move less. We eat faster but think slower. The fast-food joint has replaced the philosopher’s portico. People now seek instant satisfaction — not wisdom, just Wi-Fi.
Socrates: So, the gods of your age are named “Delivery App” and “All-You-Can-Eat Buffet”?
Sam: Indeed. And they are merciless gods. But it’s not only about appetite, Socrates. There’s shame too — the public kind. Obesity is mocked, laughed at, even in schools. Yet those who laugh often hide their own soft bellies behind loose T-shirts.
Socrates: (nodding) So the obese are punished twice — once by the body, again by society.
Sam: Exactly. In most cultures, people pretend it’s a moral failure — as if fat were proof of laziness or weakness. Yet in some societies, roundness was once a sign of prosperity. In certain African or Polynesian traditions, it still is.
Socrates: Ah, so in some lands, the fat man is wise and fortunate, while in others he is shamed and whispered about?
Sam: You understand perfectly. In the West, thinness is power; in the developing world, abundance was once prestige. But now global culture has exported the shame. Even in Mauritius, people hide their curves and buy “slimming tea” by the carton.
Socrates: (stroking his beard) How curious! Humanity invents new forms of unhappiness faster than new philosophies.
Sam: Yes — and the tragedy is that while the stigma grows, the problem itself expands. In our country, almost three-quarters of adults are above their “normal” weight.
Socrates: By the gods, seventy out of a hundred?
Sam: Roughly. Men and women alike, though women are slightly ahead. The reasons are many: desk jobs, cars, stress, screens, and the irresistible call of fried noodles at midnight.
Socrates: You speak as if gluttony has joined hands with technology to enslave mankind.
Sam: That’s one way to put it. We no longer need to hunt or farm; food hunts us instead — by delivery, by advertisement, by algorithm.
Socrates: And what of your schools? Do children learn to discipline both mind and body?
Sam: In theory, yes. In practice, they have Physical Education once a week — and half the time, it’s cancelled because of “bad weather” or “missing footballs.” Meanwhile, the canteen sells pastries, and “gateau bringelle” and “gateau pomme de terre” shaped like temptation itself.
Socrates: (raising an eyebrow) And the parents?
Sam: They’re too busy, or too tired. Many work long hours, so they turn to drive-thru meals. You see, Socrates, modern life conspires against moderation.
Socrates: Moderation — the virtue of all virtues! Without it, even wisdom becomes vanity. But tell me, Sam, why is such secrecy and shame around obesity? Would it not be better to face it openly, like any other public concern?
Sam: You’d think so. But body image is wrapped in emotion. People feel exposed, judged, and humiliated. Some even avoid doctors out of embarrassment. The social gaze can be crueler than the illness itself.
Socrates: In Athens, we discussed our flaws in the marketplace — perhaps too loudly! But here, it seems silence has become the preferred exercise.
Sam: (chuckling) True. We exercise restraint more than our limbs. And social media hasn’t helped — filters and “fitspiration” posts make everyone feel inadequate.
Socrates: So even the thin are unhappy! You mortals have found a way to make misery universal.
Sam: Exactly. We live in an age where no one feels good enough. And yet, ironically, everyone keeps eating to feel better.
Socrates: (laughing) You have achieved a perfect philosophical circle: shame leads to eating and eating leads to shame.
Sam: We call it “the Mauritian cycle of comfort.”
Socrates: Tell me then, how does your government respond? Do your rulers promote temperance and health as the ancients once did?
Sam: They try. Doctors urge people to eat more fruit and vegetables and less fried food. But some fruits are expensive, vegetables less glamorous, and jogging in some neighbourhoods feels like a contact sport.
Socrates: And yet, as you say, the problem persists. Perhaps because reason alone cannot conquer appetite.
Sam: That’s your field, Socrates. Convince people to love wisdom more than fast food, and you’ll save the nation.
Socrates: Then let us attempt a small experiment of reason. Suppose I asked a person: “Do you desire health?” He would surely answer yes. Then I ask, “Do you act in ways that promote health?” He might hesitate. So I continue: “If your actions betray your desire, do you truly desire it?”
Sam: And the poor fellow would feel guilty and order another burger out of frustration.
Socrates: (sighs) Modern philosophy indeed requires stronger patience — and smaller portions.
Sam: Then how would you cure this epidemic, Socrates?
Socrates: By replacing shame with curiosity. Instead of asking, “Why am I fat?” ask, “What makes me eat without hunger? What comforts me more — food or fellowship?” For no one who eats in the company of good friends needs a double portion.
Sam: Beautifully said. You’d make an excellent public-health philosopher.
Socrates: Then let us imagine a new Mauritius — one where people walk in parks, not malls; where the only thing “supersized” is conversation.
Sam: And perhaps, a world where people judge less and laugh more.
Socrates: Indeed. For laughter burns calories — though not enough to replace exercise, I’m told.
Sam: (smiling) Then let’s keep laughing — for health, for sanity, for the absurdity of it all.
Socrates: Agreed. And now, dear Sam, shall we walk to the food court — purely for philosophical observation, of course?
Sam: Naturally, Socrates. Observation requires a full stomach.
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 17 October 2025
An Appeal
Dear Reader
65 years ago Mauritius Times was founded with a resolve to fight for justice and fairness and the advancement of the public good. It has never deviated from this principle no matter how daunting the challenges and how costly the price it has had to pay at different times of our history.
With print journalism struggling to keep afloat due to falling advertising revenues and the wide availability of free sources of information, it is crucially important for the Mauritius Times to survive and prosper. We can only continue doing it with the support of our readers.
The best way you can support our efforts is to take a subscription or by making a recurring donation through a Standing Order to our non-profit Foundation.
Thank you.
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