Tò KdXòv corro [...] ëxovraç TeXoç (Praec. ger. reip. 799A): Plutarch on the foundation of the politician’s career

Abstract

In his Political precepts, Plutarch gives much attention to the difficult problem of the politician’s motivation. Already in the second chapter of the treatise, he collects and discusses many motivations, and concludes that there is only one which is correct, that is, a deliberate choice for the honourable course. Later in the treatise, he returns to the question, by rejecting once again the two most current and most dangerous wrong motivations, that is, φιλοπλουτια and φιλοτιμία. Plutarch finally succeeds in neutralizing the dangerous feeling of φιλοτιμία by redefining true honour and by redefining true honour and by emphazing the absolute importance of the moral course.