Plutarch’s “On the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander the Great” is not just a showcase of his rhetorical abilities, but also a revealing insight into his philosophical beliefs. During the Second Sophistic movement, Plutarch challenged traditional concepts of philosophy by questioning whether it was theory or practice that truly defined a philosopher. He used the life and reign of Alexander as a framework to analyze this question.
In addition to analyzing Alexander’s life, Plutarch also cast him as a philosopher, creating an apparent paradox. By doing so, he played on the audience’s preconceptions about the king, which many modern scholars believe detracts from the work’s historical value. Through rhetorical devices, Plutarch portrayed Alexander as a megalomaniac who was more concerned with his own glory than the welfare of his men or newly-conquered subjects.
Plutarch’s portrayal of Alexander as a philosopher allowed him to conclude that philosophy was both a theoretical and practical pursuit, which should be applied to one’s life. Therefore, his dissertation not only demonstrates his rhetorical skill and interpretation of Alexander’s reign, but also elevates the work’s significance as a source for understanding the life and reign of the Macedonian king.
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