The Platonic Academy in Athens found its Neoplatonist revival under the guidance of Ploutarchos of Athens, who served as its scholarch from 400 until his death in 432. Active during a period of transition for classical thought, he integrated diverse intellectual disciplines including philosophy, astrology, and early forms of psychotherapy within the school's rigorous academic curriculum.
Academic Leadership and Lineage
Ploutarchos directed the Platonic Academy, establishing a school culture that claimed direct descent from the doctrines of Plotinus, Porphyry, and Iamblichus. His family played a central role in this continuity; he worked alongside his children, Hierius and Asclepigenia, who served as his colleagues. This lineage of instruction continued under his successor, Syrianus, and his notable disciple, Proclus.
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Central to his pedagogical approach was the requirement that students master Aristotle before advancing to Plato. Ploutarchos argued for deep continuity between these two thinkers. He authored a significant commentary on Aristotle's De Anima, considered the most vital contribution to Aristotelian literature since Alexander of Aphrodisias. He applied this same critical method to his analysis of Plato's Timaeus.
Psychological and Theurgic Doctrine
In his exploration of the human mind, Ploutarchos identified the faculty of Imagination as a distinct bridge between sensation and reason. He posited that reason exists as a potentiality in children and functions in adults by processing raw sensory data. Furthermore, he engaged with theurgic traditions, maintaining that the soul remains intact after the destruction of the body and that communion with the divine is achievable through specific rites.
Fast facts
- Born: 0350, Athens
- Died: 0432, Athens
- Position: Scholarch of the Platonic Academy (400-432)
- Fields of work: Philosophy, Astrology, Psychotherapy
- Language: Medieval Greek
- Citizenship: Byzantine Empire
Questions readers ask
What was the main philosophical focus of Ploutarchos of Athens?
He focused on reconciling the doctrines of Aristotle and Plato, asserting that Aristotelian study was the necessary precursor to understanding Platonic thought.
What role did theurgic rites play in his philosophy?
Following the tradition of Iamblichus, he believed these rites provided a mechanism for the soul to attain communion with the divine.
Achievements
- Fields: philosophy, astrology and psychotherapy
