Bibliography
| Title: Paideia and politeia in Plutarch: the influence of Plato's Republic and Laws Secondary Title: Teoria e prassi politica nelle opere di Plutarco: atti del V convegno plutarcheo [e III congresso internazionale della International Plutarch Society] (Certosa di Pontignano, 7-9 giugno 1993). Pages: 209-219 Type: Book Section Year: 1995 Abstract: Though eclectic in his thought, Plutarch considered himself, and may legitimately be considered, a Platonist. He also accepted the reality of the Roman Empire, and even thought that his political ideals could best be realized in a monarchy. Accepting Platonism and the reality of empire as formative influences on Plutarch, Hershbell examines how Plato’s Republic and Laws shaped Plutarch’s beliefs. Both works are as much about education as politics, and while Plutarch realized that Plato’s political ideals could not be realized in his own time, he retains the ideal of philosophically based rule, an ideal that is at the fore in the lives of Numa and Lycurgus. Plutarch seems to have preferred either monarchy or a mixed constitution, but it is clear from these Lives and other passages that the moral quality of rulers (rather than constitutional forms) was his main concern. Accordingly, his main educational concern was with moral development, especially as a preparation for life in politics. Keywords: Plutarch, Plato, politics, statesmanship, statecraft, philosophy, education |