Plutarch’s Criticism Of Stoic’s Ethics In De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos

In Plutarch’s philosophical life,polemic constitutes an important part of his thought.As a Platonist,he wants to defend the authority of Plato through the criticism against the Stoics.Among Plutarch’s extant polemical works,his De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos is a very important but neglected work.Its importance lies not only in the preservation of a large number of Stoic doctrines for us,but also in showing us how Plutarch understands Stoicism.Moreover,we can also see from this work how Platonists treat Stoic ethical doctrines.For a long time,the study of Plutarch’s philosophy considers mainly those works of the Moralia,which clearly suggests Plutarch’s philosophical views.Of course,these works are very important for us to learn Plutarch’s philosophical position.However,we must note that Plutarch’s polemic is also the extension of his philosophy.His De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos consciously puts itself into the traditional polemic between the Academy and the Stoic through the methods of skeptical Academy.Therefore,it is feasible to investigate Plutarch’s philosophy through the De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos.By close reading of this polemical treatise,we can show the effort Plutarch makes to be loyal to Platonism.Furthermore,this study is not just to confirm Plutarch’s doctrines in his non-polemical works,but to show the phenomenon of the "philosophical loyalty" in the Middle Platonists.By criticizing the Stoics,Plutarch appeals to Plato’s doctrines.Thus,although the De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos in its surface is a skeptical anti-Stoic work,it shows in a special way the Platonists,positive understanding of Plato.This dissertation hopes to contribute to the study of the development of Plato’s school.It also aims at the understanding about the Stoic.Because Plutarch’s De Communibus Notitiis Adversus Stoicos critisize the Stoic directly,we can acquire much information about the Stoic.Plutarch somehow misunderstands the Stoic when he describes Stoic’s philosophy,for he does his work not from the position of Stoic,but that of his Platonist position.As he resorts to Plato’s doctrines as the criterion to measure the Stoic,he points out Plato’s legacy that Stoics has inherited.Meanwhile,he also notes some problems in the Stoic on the other hand.A presupposition that lies behinds this point is that Plato has said the truth,and the Stoic diverges from Plato.The first and the second chapter focus on the skepticism and polemical strategy in Plutarch’s philosophical activity.We will see that Plutarch’s Platonism still have the characteristics of skepticism,and we will see a Platonist like Plutarch accepts and reshapes the ’common notions’ of the Stoics.From the third chapter on,this dissertation will focus on Plutarch’s criticism of Stoic ethics.It involves some fundamental concepts of Stoic ethics,such as nature and reason,good and evil etc.This dissertation will argue that,although Plutarch criticism of the Stoics contains misunderstanding or misinterpretation,these criticisms expose some obscurities and difficulties in Stoic ethics.Plutarch hopes that Stoics can be consistent with Plato,and preserve the basic terms of traditional Greek ethics and way of thinking.