THAT A PHILOSOPHER OUGHT TO CONVERSE ESPECIALLY WITH MEN IN POWER (MAXIME CUM PRINCIPIBUS PHILOSOPHO ESSE DISSERENDUM)
INTRODUCTION
This brief essay was written in support of the contention that the philosopher should exert himself to
influence the thought and conduct of men in power
and should not shut himself away from the world.
This view is consistent with Plutarch's own life. The
essay is less carefully written than some of the others,
and the text is somewhat uncertain in a few places,
among which may be mentioned the very first sentence. In this the first word, Sorcanus, appears to be
a proper name, but the name does not occur elsewhere, and therefore numerous emendations have
been proposed. If the reading is correct, Sorcanus
was some important personage and must have been
well known to the person, whoever he was, to whom
the essay is addressed ; for although not written
exactly in the form of a letter, the essay seems to be
intended primarily for some one person's edification
or entertainment.