Taming Passion: Plutarch’s Dialectical Use of Metaphors in De virtute morali

Abstract

This paper examines the metaphors employed in Plutarch’s De virtute morali to critique Stoic and Platonic models of passion and their ethical implications. Section 1 explores the Stoic conception of passion as an excess requiring suppression, contrasting it with Plutarch’s use of artisanal metaphors, which redirect the notion of μέτρον to its Peripatetic roots, inspired by the Timaean Demiurge. Section 2 investigates Plutarch’s agricultural metaphors and their Platonic background, highlighting his preference for symbiotic models, such as the charioteer metaphor from the Phaedrus, which emphasize cooperation between reason and passion over suppression. Section 3 revisits Stoic definitions of passion and their doctrine on animals, arguing that the Phaedran metaphor subtly informs Stoic accounts of psychological conflict. Finally, Section 4 juxtaposes Plutarch’s zoological metaphors with Stoic views on animal nature, illustrating how his endorsement of μετριοπάθεια aligns with his ethical stance on kindness to animals. Ultimately, the analysis reveals that while both Plutarch and the Stoics employ similar metaphors, their conceptualizations of passion diverge fundamentally, reflecting broader differences in their ethical and psychological frameworks.