The Daimon in Timarchus' cosmic vision (Plu. De Gen. Socr. 22, 590B-592E)

Abstract

In the Timarchus myth in Plutarch’s De genio Socratis, the daimon is conceived as the highest part of the human soul, currently referred to as “intellect” (νοῦc) and wrongly believed to be internal. By contrast, in the two speeches preceding and following the myth (by Simmias and Theanor, respectively), the daimon is a superior entity assisting each man in multiple ways. This is Plutarch’s way to harmonize Plato’s different pronouncements concerning the personal daimon – an attempt anticipating later developments found in Plotinus.