Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics

A groundbreaking and wide-ranging presentation of Plutarch’s ethics based on the cosmological foundation of his ethical thought

Plutarch of Chaeronea (c. 45-120 CE) is the most prolific and influential moral philosopher in the Platonic tradition. This book is a fundamental reappraisal of Plutarch’s ethical thought. It shows how Plutarch based his ethics on his particular interpretation of Plato’s cosmology. Our quest for the good life should start by considering the good cosmos in which we live. The practical consequences of this cosmological foundation permeate various domains of Greco-Roman life: the musician, the organiser of a drinking party, and the politician should all be guided by cosmology. After exploring these domains, this book offers in-depth interpretations of two works that can only be fully understood by paying attention to cosmological aspects: Dialogue on Love and On Tranquillity of Mind.

Ebook available in Open Access.
This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

"Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics" was written by Bram Demulder.

Bram Demulder is postdoctoral researcher at Leiden University and research associate at KU Leuven.

Yes, "Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics" is part of the "Plutarchea Hypomnemata" series.

The series Plutarchea Hypomnemata intends to further the scholarly study of, and international dialogue on, this rich Corpus Plutarcheum. To that end it welcomes monographs that explore specific themes developed in one or more Plutarchan writings, offer a thorough interpretation of and/or commentary on a particular text, or discuss various aspects of Plutarch's authorial activity, philosophical thinking, religious ideas, political convictions, and attitude towards history, science, and the arts. We also welcome studies that situate him in broader ideological and literary contexts (such as the so-called ‘Second Sophistic', ‘Middle Platonism', ancient biography) and/or in a contemporary political, social, and religious context.

Volumes in this series meet the highest scholarly standards and contribute significantly to the field of Plutarch studies. Specifically, they raise innovative questions while firmly grounded in sound methodology; they reach well-argued and original conclusions; and they are disseminated in the appropriate scientific format. This overall quality is guaranteed by international peer review.

Editorial Board

Jan Opsomer (KU Leuven), Geert Roskam (KU Leuven), Frances Titchener (Utah State University, Logan), Luc Van der Stockt † (KU Leuven)

Proposals

Proposals and enquiries can be sent to Geert Roskam. Please send a preliminary abstract (1-2 pp.) and a short bio. Upon approval of this abstract, the full manuscript will be submitted to international peer review. Two peer reviewers will be asked for expert advice, three in case of conflicting reports. At least one peer reviewer is not a member of the editorial or advisory board.

Please make use of the submission form to present your manuscript or proposal to our board.
Authors interested in Open Access can consult the available funding options.

Links & Resources

Yes, "Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics" is published Open Access. It is available under a BY-NC-ND license.

Publication of "Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics" was funded by KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access
.

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations, titles, editions

Introduction

Chapter 1 Reading Plato
1. In search of irrational soul
2. Chaos and providence: flexible consistency and the Timaeus 2.1. Macro level: selection, arrangement, and function
2.2. Micro level: Plutarch’s interpretation of Timaeus 53b
3. Moralising the cosmic soul: Plato’s ‘development’ and Laws 10
3.1. Invisible soul and soul as self-moved motion
3.2. Priority of soul
3.3. Maleficent soul
3.4. Consistency and ‘development’
4. Cosmic cycles: literalness and the Statesman myth
4.1. Proclus on combining Timaeus and Statesman: introducing the problem
4.2. On the Generation of the Soul: facing the problem
4.3. Who or what is the cause for cosmic reversal?
4.4. In what period are we now?
4.5. What is Plutarch doing?
5. Concluding remarks

Chapter 2 Music
1. The demiurge and the musician
2. Music in heaven? The song of the Muses
3. Divine harmony on earth? The limits of inspiration
4. Concluding remarks

Chapter 3 Symposium
1. God and the symposiarch: Sympotic Questions 1.2 and 7.6
2. The cosmos and the symposium: Sympotic Questions 7.4 and 2.10
3. The χώρα and the venue: Sympotic Questions 5.5
4. Concluding remarks

Chapter 4 Politics
1. The Timaeus in the Phocion 2. The ruler and the demiurge in the historical works
3. The ruler and the sun: To an Uneducated Ruler 4. Concluding remarks

Chapter 5 On Tranquillity of Mind 1. Κρίσις (§ 1–5): how to deal with τύχη?
1.1. What is the problem?
1.2. How is the problem presented?
2. A shift in the ἄσκησις (§ 14–15): from internal to external synthesis
2.1. Beginning the ἄσκησις (§ 6–13): internal synthesis
2.2. Time and the self: memory (§ 14)
2.3. Becoming and the self: dualism (§ 15)
2.4. Looking back (§ 8) and continuing the ἄσκησις (§ 16–18): external synthesis
2.5. Interlude: time and becoming in Consolation to My Wife 3. ‘The cosmos is a temple’ (§ 19–20)
3.1. Intertextuality
3.2. Imagery
3.3. Contrasting images and intertexts? On Exile and Plutarch’s ‘cosmopolitanism’
3.4. Similar images and intertexts? Θεωρία and Second Sophistic cosmic festivals
4. Concluding remarks

Chapter 6 Dialogue on Love 1. The Platonist and the body
2. Eros and Aphrodite as cosmic gods (755e–757a)
2.1. A doxography of cosmic love
2.2. Euripides’ Hippolytus: a threat to the erotic cosmos
3. Eros, the sun, and the cave: rewriting Plato’s Republic (764a–766b)
4. Interlude: reflecting the intelligible
5. Cosmic and human love (770a–b)
6. Concluding remarks

Concluding remarks

Bibliography

Index locorum

General index

The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for "Plutarch’s Cosmological Ethics" is 10.11116/9789461664518.