Classics

new series Plutarchea Hypomnemata

editorial board Jan Opsomer (K.U.Leuven), Geert Roskam (K.U.Leuven), Frances Titchener (Utah State University, Logan), Luc Van der Stockt (K.U.Leuven)

The series Plutarchea Hypomnemata, published by Leuven University Press, focuses on the voluminous oeuvre of Plutarch of Chaeronea, one of the most prolific and multi-faceted authors of the ancient Greek world. Until the 19th century his fame as an author was primarily based on his Parallel Lives but today the miscellaneous collection of his ethical writings is highly appreciated as well. Nearly all of his works illustrate both his intelligent interpretation and appropriation of the Greek tradition, as well as his critical interaction with contemporary society. As a popular school author, his work exerted an immense influence on the education of the Western intelligentsia up to the 19th century. The second half of the 20th century witnessed a renaissance of scholarly research on his works, with the International Plutarch Society acting as a forceful catalyst.

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.

Virtues for the People Aspects of Plutarchan Ethics

G. Roskam, L. Van der Stockt (eds)

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.

geert roskam is Professor of Greek language and literature at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. luc van der stockt is Professor of Greek language and literature at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Honorary President of the International Plutarch Society. contributors Luc Van der Stockt (K.U.Leuven), Christopher Pelling (University College Oxford), Tim Duff (University of Reading), Paolo Desideri (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Iolanda Capriglione (Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli), Lieve Van Hoof (K.U.Leuven), Hubert Martin (University of Kentucky), Jan Opsomer (K.U.Leuven), Geert Roskam (K.U.Leuven), Anastasios Nikolaidis (University of Crete, Rethymno), Heinz-Gerd Ingenkamp (Universität Bonn), Philip Stadter (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Aurelio Pérez Jiménez (Universidad de Málaga), Frances Titchener (Utah State University, Logan), Judith Mossman (University of Nottingham), Françoise Frazier (Université Paris X-Nanterre). Virtues for the People

Aspects of Plutarchian Ethics

Geert Roskam and Luc Van der Stockt

Leuven University Press

€ 64,95 isbn 978 90 5867 858 4 03/2011 16 x 24 cm Hardcover

ca. 320 p. nur 635 Plutarchea Hypomnemata 4 English (German, Italian, French, Spanish with abstracts in English)

Previously published • Plutarch’s Life of Alcibiades. Story, Text and Moralism,

Simon Verdegem, € 69,50, isbn 978 90 5867 760 0, Hardcover, 499 p., 2010, English • Plutarch’s Maxime cum principibus philosopho esse disserendum. An Interpretation with Commentary,

Geert Roskam, € 49,50, isbn 978 90 5867 736 5, Hardcover, 252 p., 2009, English • A Commentary on Plutarch’s De Latenter vivendo,

Geert Roskam, € 34,50, isbn 978 90 5867 603 0, Paperback, 279 p., 2007, English