ESSAYS
and
MISCELLANIES

The Complete Works Volume 3

By Plutarch


CONTENTS


[ PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS ]

[ THAT A PHILOSOPHER OUGHT CHIEFLY TO CONVERSE WITH GREAT MEN. ]

[ SENTIMENTS CONCERNING NATURE WITH WHICH PHILOSOPHERS WERE DELIGHTED ]


[ BOOK I. ]

[ CHAPTER I. WHAT IS NATURE? ]

[ CHAPTER II. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRINCIPLE AND AN ELEMENT? ]

[ CHAPTER III. WHAT ARE PRINCIPLES? ]

[ CHAPTER IV. HOW WAS THIS WORLD COMPOSED IN THAT ORDER AND AFTER THAT MANNER IT IS? ]

[ CHAPTER V. WHETHER THE UNIVERSE IS ONE SINGLE THING. ]

[ CHAPTER VI. WHENCE DID MEN OBTAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE AND ESSENCE OF A DEITY? ]

[ CHAPTER VII. WHAT IS GOD? ]

[ CHAPTER VIII. OF THOSE THAT ARE CALLED GENIUSES AND HEROES ]

[ CHAPTER IX. OF MATTER. ]

[ CHAPTER X. OF IDEAS. ]

[ CHAPTER XI. OF CAUSES. ]

[ CHAPTER XII. OF BODIES. ]

[ CHAPTER XIII. OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LEAST IN NATURE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIV. OF FIGURES. ]

[ CHAPTER XV. OF COLORS. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI. OF THE DIVISION OF BODIES. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII. HOW BODIES ARE MIXED AND CONTEMPERATED ONE WITH ANOTHER. ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII. OF A VACUUM. ]

[ CHAPTER XIX. OF PLACE. ]

[ CHAPTER XX. OF SPACE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXI. OF TIME. ]

[ CHAPTER XXII. OF THE SUBSTANCE AND NATURE OF TIME. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIII. OF MOTION. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIV. OF GENERATION AND CORRUPTION. ]

[ CHAPTER XXV. OF NECESSITY. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE NATURE OF NECESSITY. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVII. OF DESTINY OR FATE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE NATURE OF FATE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIX. OF FORTUNE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXX. OF NATURE. ]


[ BOOK II. ]

[ CHAPTER I. OF THE WORLD. ]

[ CHAPTER II. OF THE FIGURE OF THE WORLD. ]

[ CHAPTER III. WHETHER THE WORLD BE AN ANIMAL. ]

[ CHAPTER IV. WHETHER THE WORLD IS ETERNAL AND INCORRUPTIBLE. ]

[ CHAPTER V. WHENCE DOES THE WORLD RECEIVE ITS NUTRIMENT? ]

[ CHAPTER VI. FROM WHAT ELEMENT GOD DID BEGIN TO RAISE THE FABRIC OF THE WORLD. ]

[ CHAPTER VII. IN WHAT FORM AND ORDER THE WORLD WAS COMPOSED. ]

[ CHAPTER VIII. WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE WORLD'S INCLINATION. ]

[ CHAPTER IX. OF THAT THING WHICH IS BEYOND THE WORLD, AND WHETHER IT BE A VACUUM OR NOT. ]

[ CHAPTER X. WHAT PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE ON THE RIGHT HAND, AND WHAT ON THE LEFT. ]

[ CHAPTER XI. OF HEAVEN, WHAT IS ITS NATURE AND ESSENCE. ]

[ CHAPTER XII. INTO HOW MANY CIRCLES IS THE HEAVEN DISTINGUISHED; OR, OF THE DIVISION OF HEAVEN. ]

[ CHAPTER XIII. WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE STARS, AND HOW THEY ARE COMPOSED. ]

[ CHAPTER XIV. OF WHAT FIGURE THE STARS ARE. ]

[ CHAPTER XV. OF THE ORDER AND PLACE OF THE STARS. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI. OF THE MOTION AND CIRCULATION OF THE STARS. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII. WHENCE DO THE STARS RECEIVE THEIR LIGHT? ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII. WHAT ARE THOSE STARS WHICH ARE CALLED THE DIOSCURI, THE TWINS, OR CASTOR AND POLLUX? ]

[ CHAPTER XIX. HOW STARS PROGNOSTICATE, AND WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF WINTER AND SUMMER. ]

[ CHAPTER XX. OF THE ESSENCE OF THE SUN. ]

[ CHAPTER XXI. OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SUN. ]

[ CHAPTER XXII. WHAT IS THE FIGURE OR SHAPE OF THE SUN. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIII. OF THE TURNING AND RETURNING OF THE STARS, OR THE SUMMER AND WINTER SOLSTICE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. ]

[ CHAPTER XXV. OF THE ESSENCE OF THE MOON. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE SIZE OF THE MOON. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVII. OF THE FIGURE OF THE MOON. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVIII. FROM WHENCE IS IT THAT THE MOON RECEIVES HER LIGHT? ]

[ CHAPTER XXIX. OF THE ECLIPSE OF THE MOON. ]

[ CHAPTER XXX. OF THE PHASES OF THE MOON, OR THE LUNAR ASPECTS; OR HOW IT COMES TO PASS THAT THE MOON APPEARS TO US TERRESTRIAL. ]

[ CHAPTER XXXI. HOW FAR THE MOON IS REMOVED FROM THE SUN. ]

[ CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE YEAR, AND HOW MANY CIRCULATIONS MAKE UP THE GREAT YEAR OF EVERY PLANET. ]


[ BOOK III. ]

[ CHAPTER I. OF THE GALAXY, OR THE MILKY WAY. ]

[ CHAPTER II. OF COMETS AND SHOOTING FIRES, AND THOSE WHICH RESEMBLE BEAMS. ]

[ CHAPTER III. OF VIOLENT ERUPTION OF FIRE OUT OF THE CLOUDS. OF LIGHTNING. OF THUNDER. OF HURRICANES. OF WHIRLWINDS. ]

[ CHAPTER IV. OF CLOUDS, RAIN, SNOW, AND HAIL. ]

[ CHAPTER V. OF THE RAINBOW. ]

[ CHAPTER VI. OF METEORS WHICH RESEMBLE RODS, OR OF RODS. ]

[ CHAPTER VII. OF WINDS. ]

[ CHAPTER VIII. OF WINTER AND SUMMER. ]

[ CHAPTER IX. OF THE EARTH, WHAT IS ITS NATURE AND MAGNITUDE. ]

[ CHAPTER X. OF THE FIGURE OF THE EARTH. ]

[ CHAPTER XI. OF THE SITE AND POSITION OF THE EARTH. ]

[ CHAPTER XII. OF THE INCLINATION OF THE EARTH. ]

[ CHAPTER XIII. OF THE MOTION OF THE EARTH. ]

[ CHAPTER XIV. INTO HOW MANY ZONES IS THE EARTH DIVIDED? ]

[ CHAPTER XV. OF EARTHQUAKES. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI. OF THE SEA, AND HOW IT IS COMPOSED, AND HOW IT BECOMES TO THE TASTE BITTER. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII. OF TIDES, OR OF THE EBBING AND FLOWING OF THE SEA. ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE AUREA, OR A CIRCLE ABOUT A STAR. ]


[ BOOK IV. ]

[ CHAPTER I. OF THE OVERFLOWING OF THE NILE. ]

[ CHAPTER II. OF THE SOUL. ]

[ CHAPTER III. WHETHER THE SOUL BE A BODY, AND WHAT IS THE NATURE AND ESSENCE OF IT. ]

[ CHAPTER IV. OF THE PARTS OF THE SOUL. ]

[ CHAPTER V. WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL PART OF THE SOUL, AND IN WHAT PART OF THE BODY IT RESIDES. ]

[ CHAPTER VI. OF THE MOTION OF THE SOUL. ]

[ CHAPTER VII. OF THE SOUL'S IMMORTALITY. ]

[ CHAPTER VIII. OF THE SENSES, AND OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE OBJECTS OF THE SENSES, ]

[ CHAPTER IX. WHETHER WHAT APPEARS TO OUR SENSES AND IMAGINATIONS BE TRUE OR NOT. ]

[ CHAPTER X. HOW MANY SENSES ARE THERE? ]

[ CHAPTER XI. HOW THE ACTIONS OF THE SENSES, THE CONCEPTIONS OF OUR MINDS, AND THE HABIT OF OUR REASON ARE FORMED. ]

[ CHAPTER XII. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMAGINATION [GREEK OMITTED], THE IMAGINABLE [GREEK OMITTED], FANCY [GREEK OMITTED], AND PHANTOM [GREEK ]

[ CHAPTER XIII. OF OUR SIGHT, AND BY WHAT MEANS WE SEE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIV. OF THOSE IMAGES WHICH ARE PRESENTED TO OUR EYES IN MIRRORS. ]

[ CHAPTER XV. WHETHER DARKNESS CAN BE VISIBLE TO US. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI. OF HEARING. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII. OF SMELLING. ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII. OF TASTE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIX. OF THE VOICE. ]

[ CHAPTER XX. WHETHER THE VOICE IS INCORPOREAL. WHAT IS IT THAT THE GIVES ECHO? ]

[ CHAPTER XXI. BY WHAT MEANS THE SOUL IS SENSIBLE, AND WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL AND COMMANDING PART OF IT. ]

[ CHAPTER XXII. OF RESPIRATION OR BREATHING. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIII. OF THE PASSIONS OF THE BODY, AND WHETHER THE SOUL HATH A SYMPATHETICAL CONDOLENCY WITH IT. ]


[ BOOK V ]

[ CHAPTER I. OF DIVINATION. ]

[ CHAPTER II. WHENCE DREAMS DO ARISE. ]

[ CHAPTER III. OF THE NATURE OF GENERATIVE SEED. ]

[ CHAPTER IV. WHETHER THE SPERM BE A BODY. ]

[ CHAPTER V. WHETHER WOMEN DO GIVE A SPERMATIC EMISSION AS MEN DO. ]

[ CHAPTER VI. HOW IT IS THAT CONCEPTIONS ARE MADE. ]

[ CHAPTER VII. AFTER WHAT MANNER MALES AND FEMALES ARE GENERATED. ]

[ CHAPTER VIII. BY WHAT MEANS IT IS THAT MONSTROUS BIRTHS ARE EFFECTED. ]

[ CHAPTER IX. HOW IT COMES TO PASS THAT A WOMAN'S TOO FREQUENT CONVERSATION WITH A MAN HINDERS CONCEPTION. ]

[ CHAPTER X. WHENCE IT IS THAT ONE BIRTH GIVES TWO OR THREE CHILDREN. ]

[ CHAPTER XI. WHENCE IT IS THAT CHILDREN REPRESENT THEIR PARENTS AND PROGENITORS. ]

[ CHAPTER XII. HOW IT COMES TO PASS THAT CHILDREN HAVE A GREATER SIMILITUDE WITH STRANGERS THAN WITH THEIR PARENTS. ]

[ CHAPTER XIII. WHENCE ARISETH BARRENNESS IN WOMEN, AND IMPOTENCY IN MEN? ]

[ CHAPTER XIV. HOW IT ARISES THAT MULES ARE BARREN. ]

[ CHAPTER XV. WHETHER THE INFANT IN THE MOTHER'S WOMB BE AN ANIMAL. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI. HOW EMBRYOS ARE NOURISHED, OR HOW THE INFANT IN THE BELLY RECEIVES ITS ALIMENT. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII. WHAT PART OF THE BODY IS FIRST FORMED IN THE WOMB. ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII. WHENCE IS IT THAT INFANTS BORN IN THE SEVENTH MONTH ARE BORN ALIVE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIX. OF THE GENERATION OF ANIMALS, HOW ANIMALS ARE BEGOTTEN, AND WHETHER THEY ARE OBNOXIOUS TO CORRUPTION. ]

[ CHAPTER XX. HOW MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS THERE ARE, AND WHETHER ALL ANIMALS HAVE THE ENDOWMENTS OF SENSE AND REASON. ]

[ CHAPTER XXI. WHAT TIME IS REQUIRED TO SHAPE THE PARTS OF ANIMALS IN THE WOMB. ]

[ CHAPTER XXII. OF WHAT ELEMENTS EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF US MEN IS COMPOSED. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIII. WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SLEEP AND DEATH? ]

[ CHAPTER XXIV. WHEN AND FROM WHENCE THE PERFECTION OF A MAN COMMENCES. ]

[ CHAPTER XXV. WHETHER SLEEP OR DEATH APPERTAINS TO THE SOUL OR BODY. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVI. HOW PLANTS INCREASE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVII. OF NUTRITION AND GROWTH. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVIII. WHENCE IT IS THAT IN ANIMALS THERE ARE APPETITES AND PLEASURES. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIX. WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF A FEVER, OR WHETHER IT IS AN AFFECTION OF THE BODY ANNEXED TO A PRIMARY PASSION ]

[ CHAPTER XXX. OF HEALTH, SICKNESS, AND OLD AGE. ]


[ ABSTRACT OF A DISCOURSE SHOWING THAT THE STOICS SPEAK GREATER IMPROBABILITIES THAN THE POETS. ]


[ SYMPOSIACS. ]

[ BOOK 1. ]

[ BOOK II. ]

[ BOOK III ]

[ BOOK IV. ]

[ BOOK V. ]

[ BOOK VI. ]

[ BOOK VII. ]

[ BOOK VIII. ]

[ BOOK IX ]


[ COMMON CONCEPTIONS AGAINST THE STOICS. ]

[ CONTRADICTIONS OF THE STOICS. ]

[ THE EATING OF FLESH. ]

[ CONCERNING FATE. ]

[ AGAINST COLOTES, THE DISCIPLE AND FAVORITE OF EPICURUS. ]

[ PLATONIC QUESTIONS. ]

[ LITERARY ESSAYS. ]

[ THE BANQUET OF THE SEVEN WISE MEN. ]

[ ABSTRACT OF A COMPARISON BETWEEN ARISTOPHANE AND MENANDER ]

[ THE MALICE OF HERODOTUS. ]


[ INDEX. ]