Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Plutarch <strong>and</strong> the Greece <strong>of</strong> His Age<br />
acter <strong>and</strong> conduct, he rarely attempts to fathom the<br />
motives that underlie <strong>and</strong> influence conduct.<br />
He is<br />
at times inconsistent with himself because his views on<br />
transcendental problems have not been systematically<br />
wrought out <strong>and</strong> firmly fixed. If he can quote the<br />
authority <strong>of</strong> some great name in support <strong>of</strong> a position<br />
he takes, it<br />
generally suffices him. Not unfrequently<br />
he cites contradictory authorities both for facts <strong>and</strong><br />
opinions, then declares which he prefers without<br />
giving a reason for his preference.<br />
Plutarch s Moralia or Moral Writings are so called<br />
for the reason that they<br />
are more or less concerned<br />
with ethical problems. But they also treat inci<br />
dentally <strong>of</strong> matters religious, political, literary, psy<br />
chological, physical <strong>and</strong> metaphysical or philosophi<br />
cal. Many <strong>of</strong> his treatises are in the form <strong>of</strong> dia<br />
logues,<br />
in which he doubtless had before his mind s<br />
eye his great prototype Plato, little as he is able to<br />
fathom his speculative pr<strong>of</strong>undity. Sometimes his<br />
discussions are addressed to a real or imaginary<br />
interlocutor, who has, however, little to say. His dis<br />
courses may be regarded<br />
as sermons or lectures<br />
addressed to a small circle <strong>of</strong> interested listeners, or<br />
even to a single person, though in reality intended<br />
for a larger public. The homiletic character <strong>of</strong> many<br />
<strong>of</strong> Plutarch s discourses is also attested by the fact<br />
that he regards morals as closely connected with<br />
religion. He is the bitter enemy <strong>of</strong> atheism, because,<br />
as he maintains, it leads to a dissolute <strong>and</strong> aimless<br />
life. He was, however, in no sense an innovator, but<br />
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