Political Commands: Practical advice on politics based on ethical considerations. Theoretical thoughts and historical examples.
On Monarchy, Democracy, and Oligarchy: A brief treatise on the distinction of political systems in the three main forms: monarchy, democracy, and oligarchy.
The biographer and philosopher Plutarch (c. 50-120 AD) was born in Chaeronea, Boeotia. Through his travels, he expanded his horizons and came into contact with prominent personalities of his time, primarily distinguished Romans. He spent most of his life in his homeland and held public priestly offices.
His surviving work is divided into the historical-biographical part and the so-called 'Ethical' writings. In the 'Parallel Lives,' notable Greeks and Romans are compared, indirectly comparing the worlds each represents. In the 'Ethical' writings, issues of ethics, philosophy, science, politics, literary criticism, as well as topics from the realms of religion, nature, history, etc., are developed, sometimes in the form of dialogues and at other times as treatises or dissertations.
Erudite and with a fine spirit, the author expressed traditional Greek values with simplicity and an optimistic outlook. His work delights and teaches, while also being an important source of classical and Alexandrian literature.
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