XVIII - Plutarch on the One and the Dyad (original) (raw)

2007, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies

In this chapter I look at some Plutarchan texts in which the One (or the monad) and the Dyad are mentioned as metaphysical principles. This will lead to the question of Plutarch's dualism. Plutarch is a difficult author to inteφret because in his philosophical texts he frequently uses characters in dialogue that put forward various views, so that it is often not clear what Plutarch's ovra position is. In general, the literary setting of a partic ular work codetermines the ideas expressed in it. I shall therefore focus on those texts that contain a direct exposition of the author's views. I begin with De animae procreatione in Timaeo, the treatise in which Plutarch discusses the central tenets of his philosophy.

A jumble of disordered remarks? Structure and argument of Plutarch's De sera numinis vindicta

M. Jufresa, F. Mestre, Pilar Gómez, P. Gilabert (Eds.): Plutarc a la seva època: Paideia i Societat, 2005

A J umble of Disordered R emarks? Structure and Argument of P lutarch's De sera numinis vindicta1 One of the most problematic and intriguing tasks that a reader of Plutarch's dialogues is faced with is to delineate which of the interlocutors actually represents Plutarchan doctrine. If Plutarch himself participates in the discussion this problem is seemingly resolved. However, sometimes our author may be more flexible: He may be prepared to endorse an opinion which does strictly speaking not agree with his philosophical tenets. This is to say, he may, as is the case with Plato, sometimes put forward an argument which is suited only for a certain audience or for a certain type of interlocutor. This can, of course, have differ ent reasons. Plutarch might just want to be polemic, but he might likewise want to address a particular audience or to discuss some philosophical or religious problems only in a cer tain manner, from a certain perspective. In what follows, our concern is to show that in the treatise On the delays o f the divine vengeance we are dealing with such a flexible Plutarch, who puts forth many ad hominem arguments and addresses his speeches to an audience that is, as it were, non-philosophical2. It is necessary to realise that this fact has an important bearing on the interpretation of the work and the evaluation of the arguments employed.

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'Apuleius and Plutarch' (2004)

'Plutarch and Apuleius', in: Lukas de Blois, Jeroen Bons, Ton Kessels, Dirk M. Schenkeveld (edd.), The statesman in Plutarch's works, Vol. I: Plutarch's statesman and his aftermath: political, philosophical, and literary aspects, Leiden / Boston 2004, 251-60