Plutarch the Multiculturalist: Is West always Best?

Abstract

Is Plutarch a multiculturalist, recognising the value of non-Greek cultures along with Greek? Does he even go as far as Antiphon in the fifth century and deny any firm dividing line between barbarian and Greek? There are some traces of this, particularly an awareness that all may recognise the same gods; the Romans in particular may share some underlying traits with the Greeks while also showing differences. But Alexander the Great, even if the On the Virtue or Fortune of Alexander essays present him as unifying East and West, does so by imposing Greek values; the Life shows little interest in his learning anything from eastern values and philosophy. The alien culture to inspire most respect is that of Egypt, and the Isis and Osiris in particular accepts that there is much wisdom that Greeks share with Egyptians.