Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78851

Title

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume presents Plutarch's moral essays and scientific inquiries, translated from Greek and revised by William W. Goodwin. It explores themes of virtue, brotherly love, the nature of the soul, and natural philosophy through dialogues on topics ranging from banishment to the cooling of water.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume Three of Plutarch's *Essays and Miscellanies* presents a rich tapestry of moral instruction and natural philosophy, blending ethical discourse with empirical curiosity. The volume opens with reflections on public life, challenging the notion that virtuous men should live concealed. Plutarch argues that even good men must be known, for their examples serve as vital guides for society; a life of concealment represents a loss to the world, while virtue, like human ability, flourishes only through use. This ethical framework extends to intimate relationships, specifically brotherly love. Plutarch advises on the necessity of harmony between siblings, warning that alienation between brothers is a profound wrong that is difficult to repair. He emphasizes mutual support, the importance of an equitable division of property, and the need for the elder brother to lead without being overbearing, while the younger shows respect. The essays then shift to investigate the decline of poetic oracles at Delphi. Plutarch suggests that the Pythian priestess no longer delivers oracles in verse due to the priestess's lack of education and the changing times. He posits that while the divine ideas remain, the words are imperfectly conveyed by the human instrument, much like the moon reflects the sun's light. Consequently, the era of public tranquillity and the rise of philosophy have rendered the poetic form unnecessary for conveying divine messages. A significant portion of the volume is dedicated to natural philosophy, where Plutarch engages in symposium-style debates to explain natural phenomena. He challenges Aristotelian explanations, proposing theories based on moisture, air reflection, and material properties. For instance, he explains that hunger is assuaged by drinking because moisture diffuses through the dry relics of food, whereas eating increases thirst because dry meat contracts the body's remaining moisture. Similarly, he argues that water drawn from a well cools overnight not because the air heats it first, but because the cold air acts upon the separated surface of the water more effectively than the bulk. He further theorizes that stones and lead cool water by reflecting cold air and drawing mud to thin the water's resistance. The volume concludes with inquiries into divination, dreams, and the generation of life, maintaining a tone that seamlessly integrates ethical instruction with a deep curiosity about the physical world.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78851.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg78851.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 06:29 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Philosophy
• Essays