Biography as Implicit Philosophical Polemics. Porphyry’s Life of Plotinus and Iamblichus’ Pythagorean Life

Abstract

Porphyry’s Life of Plotinus and Iamblichus’ Pythagorean Life display several passages in strong opposition to one another. At least in some significant cases, it is possible to show that the ethical stance adopted by each character corresponds to a position of his biographer about questions that divide Porphyry and Iamblichus. Thus, both texts can be considered as a way for these philosophers to implicitly make a point against each other, concerning matters such as the attitude one must have towards the body, one’s birth, health, passions and death; the possibility of the soul’s progression and liberation from the body; the traditional Greek religion and in particular rites of divination and sacrifice; and what makes a good philosophical education. These are all important issues of a long standing polemic between Porphyry and Iamblichus. While this does not make them mere mouthpieces, one should therefore take into account that the Plotinus and Pythagoras described in these texts carry important concerns of their authors, who carefully choose the episodes they narrate according to their agenda.