Plutarch’s Use of Anecdotes and the Date of De Tranquillitate Animi

Abstract

Plutarch’s De tranquillitate animi had been regarded as an early work until Jones, in his seminal article on the chronology of Plutarch’s works, argued for a much later date (after 107 CE). Although I agree with Jones’ late dating, I question his arguments for it. Instead, I argue for a terminus post quem (TPQ) around 110 CE by considering an unnoticed parallel between De tranq. anim. and Plutarch’s Caesar. This parallel also illustrates Plutarch’s creative use of anecdotes. Jones adduces three arguments for a late dating of De tranq. anim. (1) Calling Minicius Fundanus ὁ κράτιστος, as Plutarch does at 464 f, would be most fitting after Fundanus’ consulship (107 CE). (2) At 470 c Plutarch ridicules the power hunger of Chians, Galatians, and Bithynians pursuing senatorial careers, thus alluding to political developments under Trajan. (3) De tranq. anim. was probably written around the same time as De cohibenda ira, which also mentions the characters Fundanus and Eros, i. e. after 92–93 CE. The first argument stands out because it points to a later date than the others. Jones must have regarded this argument as decisive, since he concludes that De tranq. anim. was written after c. 107 CE. However, in Plutarch’s time the term κράτιστος was a general show of respect and did not indicate a specific title or position. There is no reason why Fundanus could not have been κράτιστος in