
Contents
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Introduction Introduction
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Sources Sources
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Background Background
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Persona in Plutarch’s Writings Persona in Plutarch’s Writings
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Continuity Continuity
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Plutarch, an Expert on Epicurean Doctrine Plutarch, an Expert on Epicurean Doctrine
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Plutarch as Source and Author Plutarch as Source and Author
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Plutarch the Anti-Epicurean: Differences of Principle Plutarch the Anti-Epicurean: Differences of Principle
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Method Method
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Case Studies Case Studies
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Adversus Colotem Adversus Colotem
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Refutation of Epicurean Teachings on Pleasure (Non posse) Refutation of Epicurean Teachings on Pleasure (Non posse)
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Epicurus’s Anti-politics (De latenter) Epicurus’s Anti-politics (De latenter)
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References References
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20 Plutarch
Get accessMichael Erler is Senior Professor and chair of the board of directors of the Siebald Collegium Institute for Advanced Studies (SCIAS) of the University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. He is the author of Epikur-Die Schule Epikurs-Lukrez (1994), Römische Philosophie (1997), Plato (2007); editor of Epikureismus in der späten Republik und der Kaiserzeit (2000); co-editor of Philosophie der Lust. Studien zum Hedonismus (2012); and has published various articles on Plato, Platonism, Epicurus, Epicureanism, the relation between literature and Greek philosophy, and Greek drama.
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Published:06 August 2020
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Abstract
Plutarch, a priest at Delphi and an enthusiastic adherent of “divine” Plato, found himself diametrically opposed to Epicurus’s teachings, yet granted considerable space to discussions of his propositions. He devoted a considerable number of his writings entirely to discussions of Epicurean doctrines. In these texts, he points out significant discrepancies between the theory and practice of Epicurean teachings. He discusses Epicurus’s deistic theology, criticizes Epicurus’s seemingly apolitical stance and in one treatise discusses a work by the Epicurean Colotes, who posited that it is impossible to live according to the precepts of other philosophers. Other works touch on Epicurean subjects, but are known only by title. All of this indicates that Plutarch engaged deeply with the entire breadth of Epicurean doctrine. After all, even those of Plutarch’s writings that do not deal directly or exclusively with the subject do frequently bring up Epicurean teachings and, more often than not, refute them. In doing so, Plutarch was apparently less concerned with a systematic refutation of Epicurus. Rather, it seems that Plutarch used Epicurus as a welcome foil to highlight his own, Platonist positions and to justify and underline his loyalty to Plato’s teachings. But his writings testify to the importance of Epicurean teachings at his time.
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