PERFECT MED

Erscheinungsjahr 2017
ISBN: 978-94-6270-111-3
Verlag: LEUVEN UNIV PR

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 565 g

Reihe: Plutarchea Hypomnemata

An in-depth analysis of oracular divination in
Plutarch’s thought

Oracular divination was of special concern for Plutarch of Chaeronea (45–120
AD), Platonic philosopher as well as priest at the oracle of Apollo in Delphi.
The peculiar nature of Delphic divination as an (im)perfect intermediary
between the material and the immaterial world is fathomed in a thorough study
of Plutarch’s Delphic dialogues. This in-depth philosophical-conceptual
analysis will disclose an original interpretation of oracular divination in
Plutarch as interconnected with his psychological and cosmological conceptions.
A Perfect Medium? reveals the Delphic
temple as a crucial element in Plutarch’s philosophy, as a microcosm reflecting
the cosmic dynamics, and as a symbol embodying the relationship between human
thirst for knowledge and divine absolute wisdom.

This publication is
GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Simonetti, Elsa Giovanna

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Klassische Literaturwissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Antike Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. An analysis of De Pythiae oraculis

1.
Introduction

1.1. The
character of Diogenianus and the style of philosophy

1.2 The
role of the symbol

1.3 The
function of the temple

2. The
concept of krâsis

3. Prodigies

4. From
poetry to prose

5.
Enthusiasm

5.1 Body
and soul

5.2 The
soul of the Pythia

5.3 The
dynamic of enthusiasm

5.4 The
features of the Pythia

6. The
history of the oracle

7. Solar
symbolism



2. An analysis of De defectu oraculorum

1.
Introduction

2. The
character of Didymus and the style of philosophy

3.
Narratives and inquiries

4. God’s
responsibility

4.1. A
plurality of worlds

5. The
demons and the moon

5.1
Demonology, the kinds of divination and the structure of the soul

6. The psychology
of divination

7. The sun
and god

8. The
theory of double causation

9. The
theory of double causation applied on oracular divination

9.1 The pneûma

9.2 The
role of the demons in the temple

9.3
Preliminary sacrifices and the concept of ‘kairos’

9.4 Delphi
as a unique place

10. The
Pythia



3. An analysis of De E apud Delphos

1.
Introduction

2.
Importance of symbols and riddles for philosophy and rational reflection

3.
Tentative solutions

3.1. Apollo.
The god of popular devotion

3.2.
Religion and logic

3.3. Numerology
and Pythagoreanism

4.
Ammonius’ explanation

4.1. Ammonius:

Apollo and the sun

4.2. Ammonius’
explanation of the ‘E’

5. The
final image of Apollo and Plutarch’s god

5.1.
Fate-providence-freedom

6.
Plutarch’s dualism

6.1. Egypt
and Oriental religions

7.
‘Conclusion’ and value of the dialogue

4. Divination and the soul

1.
Plutarch’s psychology: the individual soul and the world soul

1.1. The
individual soul

1.2. The
cosmic soul

1.3. The
analogy between the individual and the cosmic soul

2. The
psychology of individual divination

3. Plutarch
and the Timaeus

3.1. A
‘likely account’

3.2. Some
remarks on the practical dynamics of Delphic divination

4. The
“matter” of divination

4.1. The
multiple characters of the Pythia

5. Apollo
and the oracle: from chaos to harmony

6. The
importance of studying the oracle

Conclusion

Bibliography

Abbreviations

Dictionaries

References

Index
Locorum

Über Autor(innen)

Simonetti, Elsa Giovanna
Elsa Giovanna Simonetti obtained her PhD in philosophy from Università di Padova and KU Leuven in 2016.