Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

Plutarch and the Greece of His Age
Plutarch s ideal of duty is a high one. The ful
filment of some duty is incumbent upon every man
so long as he lives. It is as imperative in old age as
in early life.
When a man is quit of his obligations
to his children, he owes a service to his country and
to his fellow citizens in a narrower sense. From
of his facilities or
this service, only the impairment
death may release him. As every man is born into
the state, and as, in a certain sense, he is a man only
in so far as he discharges his obligations to the state,
he has no choice in the matter. Herein lies a duty
from which there is no possible escape. But the
mere holding
of an office is not the only or even the
chief test of the good citizen. His duties in a pri
vate capacity are no less important, and if less con
spicuous are equally far reaching. The good citizen
is the philosopher in his true sphere: good citizen
ship is philosophy in action applied philosophy.
It is only in actual life that the philosopher can put
his theories to the test. The form of government is
a matter of minor importance. Plutarch regards
monarchy, as on the whole, the best, but he is not
radical. In this he agrees with the majority of
Greek philosophers, most of whom were generally
more or less dissatisfied with the turbulent Athenian
democracy. That monarchy is best where the head of
the state is what Plutarch would have him be, a philos
opher. But even the most absolute monarch should
not regard himself above law; he is to be its executor.
Moreover, it is his duty not only to obey cheerfully
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