Virtues for the People

Plutarch of Chaeronea, Platonist, polymath, and prolific writer, was by no means an armchair philosopher. He believed in the necessity for a philosopher to affect the lives of his fellow citizens. That urge inspired many of his writings to meet what he considered people's true needs. Although these writings on practical ethics illustrate in various ways Plutarch's authorial talents and raise many challenging questions (regarding their overall structure, content, purpose, and underlying philosophical and social presuppositions), they have attracted only limited scholarly attention. Virtues for the People contains a collection of essays that deal with these questions from different perspectives and as such throw a new light upon this multifaceted domain of Plutarch's thinking and writing. Special points of interest are the concept of ‘popular philosophy' itself and its implications, its dependence on a more theoretical philosophical background, and the importance of moral progress, the therapy of wickedness, and the common experiences of everyday life.

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

"Virtues for the People" was edited by Geert Roskam and Luc Van der Stockt.

Geert Roskam is Professor of Greek language and literature at KU Leuven.

Luc Van der Stockt is Professor of Greek language and literature at the KU Leuven and Honorary President of the International Plutarch Society.

Yes, "Virtues for the People" is part of the "Plutarchea Hypomnemata" series. It's book 4 in the 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, "Virtues for the People" is published Open Access. It is available under a BY-NC license.

Efficiency and Effectiveness of Plutarch's Broadcasting Ethics
G. Roskam - L. Van der Stockt

1. Virtues for the people

Semper duo, numquam tres? Plutarch's Popularphilosophie
on Friendship and Virtue in On having many friends
L. Van der Stockt

What is Popular about Plutarch's 'Popular Philosophy'?
Chr. Pelling

Plutarch's Lives and the Critical Reader
T.E. Duff

Greek Poleis and the Roman Empire: Nature and Features of Political Virtues in an Autocratic System
P. Desideri

Del Satiro che voleva baciare il fuoco (o Come trarre vantaggio dai nemici)
J.C. Capriglione

Plutarch's 'Diet-Ethics'. Precepts of Healthcare Between Diet and Ethics
L. Van Hoof

2. Some theoretical questions on ethical praxis

Plutarchan Morality: Arete, Tyche, and Non-Consequentialism
H.M. Martin

Virtue, Fortune, and Happiness in Theory and Practice
J. Opsomer

Plutarch Against Epicurus on Affection for Offspring. A Reading of De amore prolis
G. Roskam

3. Virtues and vices

Plutarch's 'Minor' Ethics: Some Remarks on De garrulitate, De curiositate, and De vitioso pudore
A.G. Nikolaidis

Plutarchs Schrift gegen das Borgen (ΠεÏὶ τοῦ μὴ δεῖν δανείζεσθαι): Adressaten, Lehrziele und Genos
H.G. Ingenkamp

Competition and its Costs: Φιλονικία in Plutarch's Society and Heroes
Ph.A. Stadter

4. 'Popular philosophy' in context

Astrometeorología y creencias sobre los astros en Plutarco
A. Pérez Jiménez

Bitch is Not a Four-Letter Word. Animal Reason and Human Passion in Plutarch
J. Mossman - F. Titchener

Autour du miroir. Les miroitements d'une image dans l'oeuvre de Plutarque
F. Frazier

Bibliography

Index Locorum

Abstracts