QUESTIONING PHILOSOPHY IN PLUTARCH’S QUAESTIONES CONVIVALES.
Day Colloquium at the Institute of Classical Studies, London, March
28, 2007.
Organisers:
Katerina Oikonomopoulou (Merton College, Oxford)
Frieda Klotz (King’s College, London)
Plutarch’s twin obsessions of philosophy and biography are normally
thought to be discrete, so sequestered from each other that the
popularity of the moral works has traditionally been far eclipsed by
that of the Lives. As one of the Moralia, the Quaestiones Convivales
is emblematic of both these interests but it has yet to feature as
the centre-piece of any large-scale investigation.
This colloquium aims to begin to redress the imbalance and to
stimulate discussion of the text. The following questions will be
asked: On what level(s) do the historical, educational and scientific
topics count as philosophy? Are some answers to the problems being
tackled given more weight than others? How does the meandering form
of the QC facilitate the reader’s learning?
By engaging with these problems we shall address the larger question
why the QC has been so neglected. We hope that the papers will lead
to a deeper understanding of the ways in which its (pseudo)-
autobiographical format problematises the role of biography, while
its content embeds this biography in a philosophical context.
Confirmed speakers: Christopher Pelling (Oxford), Jason König (St.
Andrews), Frances Titchener (Utah State), Frieda Klotz (King’s
College London), Katerina Oikonomopoulou (Merton College, Oxford).
We hope to attract the interest of Plutarchists, scholars of the
Second Sophistic, and researchers working more broadly in the areas
of ancient philosophy, education, and medicine. Postgraduate students
in any of the above fields are particularly welcome. Thanks to the
generous support of the Hellenic Society, we will be able to offer to
two postgraduate bursaries to facilitate attendance.
Potential participants are encouraged to contact the organisers
(frieda.klotz AT kcl.ac.uk, or
aikaterini.oikonomopoulou AT merton.ox.ac.uk) stating their interest.
The conference programme and other participation details (including
how to apply for the bursaries) will be circulated in due course.
Day Colloquium at the Institute of Classical Studies, London, March
28, 2007.
Organisers:
Katerina Oikonomopoulou (Merton College, Oxford)
Frieda Klotz (King’s College, London)
Plutarch’s twin obsessions of philosophy and biography are normally
thought to be discrete, so sequestered from each other that the
popularity of the moral works has traditionally been far eclipsed by
that of the Lives. As one of the Moralia, the Quaestiones Convivales
is emblematic of both these interests but it has yet to feature as
the centre-piece of any large-scale investigation.
This colloquium aims to begin to redress the imbalance and to
stimulate discussion of the text. The following questions will be
asked: On what level(s) do the historical, educational and scientific
topics count as philosophy? Are some answers to the problems being
tackled given more weight than others? How does the meandering form
of the QC facilitate the reader’s learning?
By engaging with these problems we shall address the larger question
why the QC has been so neglected. We hope that the papers will lead
to a deeper understanding of the ways in which its (pseudo)-
autobiographical format problematises the role of biography, while
its content embeds this biography in a philosophical context.
Confirmed speakers: Christopher Pelling (Oxford), Jason König (St.
Andrews), Frances Titchener (Utah State), Frieda Klotz (King’s
College London), Katerina Oikonomopoulou (Merton College, Oxford).
We hope to attract the interest of Plutarchists, scholars of the
Second Sophistic, and researchers working more broadly in the areas
of ancient philosophy, education, and medicine. Postgraduate students
in any of the above fields are particularly welcome. Thanks to the
generous support of the Hellenic Society, we will be able to offer to
two postgraduate bursaries to facilitate attendance.
Potential participants are encouraged to contact the organisers
(frieda.klotz AT kcl.ac.uk, or
aikaterini.oikonomopoulou AT merton.ox.ac.uk) stating their interest.
The conference programme and other participation details (including
how to apply for the bursaries) will be circulated in due course.