ΝΟΜΟΣ como criterio de valoración ética en las Vidas Paralelas

Abstract

Law and justice in Plutarch are not only philosophical or technical concepts, but also literary expedients. Sometimes the political behaviour of Plutarch’s heroes moves on the border between law and convenience. It is in these situations that Plutarch uses νόμος as a means to underline the virtues or the despotical nature of his characters. In this paper we try to clarify the nature of legislative activity by men such as Lycurgus, Numa, or Solon as well as the circumstances in which politicians have to choose between τὸ δίκαιον and τὸ συμφέρον or between ὁ νόμος and other unavowable interests, according to Plutarch’s biographical design of these figures.