La paideia plutarchea nelle Epistole di Guarino Guarini

Abstract

At the court of Ferrara, the relationship between Prince Lionello d'Este and Guarino gave an impulse to a vivid interest in Greek and Latin culture. In particular, Guarino's attention, expressed in various epistles, is directed towards the study of history, since reading the deeds of the ancients, rescued from oblivion, shows the way to learn virtue and to escape wickedness. For this reason, Plutarch's Lives fulfil this cultural need well, since in them there were many examples of virtuous characters from the past, who had served the state loyally and honestly, and served as models to be imitated. History is therefore magistra vitae, because it is through it and for it that we know the events experienced in peace and war. From such examples of the past, Lionello will be able to benefit greatly, learning, for example, to recognise flatterers.