Bankruptcy, duties, and charity

Meaning

Bankruptcy is a moral and social metaphor: bodily intemperance brings the person into default upon obligations to God, family, neighbours and worldly honour. These are differentiated duties, not one generic religiosity. In particular, pieté vers les siens concerns duty or affection toward one’s own family, while charity concerns the neighbour.

The metaphor appears in the account of spirit as the body’s guest, sharing the consequences of the body’s pleasures and disorder. Financial failure names the collapse of owed conduct rather than a literal insolvency proceeding. The language also keeps love and fear of God distinct from the public reputation or honour that worldly misconduct endangers.