Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol 6. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1895.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a philosophical and scientific commentary examining the creation and nature of the cosmic soul as described in Plato's dialogue Timaeus. The author explores how the soul shapes matter and presents criticisms of various previous theories, including those of the school of Poseidonius. It argues that the dual nature of the soul—rational motion on one hand, and sensory or opinion-forming motion on the other—stems directly from its twofold constituents. The text then explains the mixture of Sameness, Difference, and the Intermediate Essence that make up the cosmic soul, illustrating how these correspond to the soul's cognitive and motive capacities. Finally, it demonstrates how the harmony of the four elements in the cosmic body serves as a metaphor for the proportional harmony of the soul itself.