Educating the young ... over wine: Plutarch, Calvenus Taurus, and Favorinus as convivial teachers

Abstract

Already in the Archaic period, the symposion was often connected with educational purposes. Plato elaborated his own alternative (esp. in the first two books of the Laws), which in turn influenced later authors. This contribution deals with three such thinkers: Plutarch, Calvenus Taurus, and Favorinus of Arles. All three realised that the context of the symposion yielded interesting opportunities for the education of younger students. I propose to examine their evaluation of their students, their attitude (and, in Plutarch’s case, self-characterisation) as a teacher, and their didactic approach.The evidence shows that Plutarch and Taurus basically pursue the same philosophical purposes in their education during dinner, by promoting independent and critical thinking, whereas Favorinus’ teaching activities are more in line with the brilliant self-display of the so-called ‘Second Sophistic’.