He wrote commentaries on Aristotle and Plato, emphasizing the doctrines which they had in common.

The origin of Neoplatonism in Athens is not known, but Plutarch is generally seen as the person who reestablished Plato's Academy in its Neoplatonist form.

Plutarch and his followers (so-called the "Platonic Succession") claimed to be the disciples of Iamblichus, and through him of Porphyry and Plotinus.

Plutarch's main principle was that the study of Aristotle must precede that of Plato, and like the Middle Platonists believed in the continuity between the two authors.

This critical spirit reached its greatest height in Proclus, the ablest exponent of this latter-day syncretism.