How are dialogues used in Plutarch’s Moralia?

In Plutarch’s Moralia, dialogues serve as a primary vehicle for exploring a wide range of ethical, religious, physical, political, and literary topics. These works vary significantly in style and setting, ranging from collections of formal set speeches to informal conversation pieces held among members of Plutarch’s own family circle.12

The use of dialogue in the Moralia functions in several ways:

• Philosophical Exploration: Plutarch utilizes the form to examine the tenets of various philosophical schools, such as his critiques of Epicurean and Stoic doctrines, or his own interpretations of Plato’s teachings.1
• Dramatic and Entertaining Narrative: Some dialogues employ creative settings to engage the reader. For example, in the dialogue Gryllus, a pig—one of Odysseus’s transformed companions—argues for the moral superiority of animals over humans, effectively challenging the Stoic denial of reason to animals.1
• Intellectual Inquiry: Dialogues are used to address complex questions that may not yield a single, definitive answer, such as whether land or sea animals are more intelligent.1
• Literary Enhancement: The literary quality of these dialogues is often heightened by the frequent inclusion of quotations from Greek poets, particularly Euripides and other dramatists.1