Keep an eye out for this forthcoming compendium, coedited by the very excellent Jessica Hooten Wilson. Christianityjessica hooten wilsonLiberal educationphilosophical literatureReligion & Spirituality
Brill, the preeminent Philonic studies publisher, has two new titles to this series in the pipeline: Philo of Alexandria: On the Contemplative Life and Philo of Alexandria: On the Life of Abraham. Christianityearly churchhellenismJudaismphilo of alexandria
The doyen of Philonic studies, David Runia, reviews Jennifer Otto’s recent book in Vigiliae Christianae. Christianitydavid runiaJennifer OttoJewish IdentityJudaismlogosphilo of alexandriawisdom literature
After one glass of bourbon, we agreed that our work consisted largely of reminding moral philosophers of truths about human life which are very well known to virtually all adult human beings except moral philosophers. After further glasses of bourbon, we agreed that it was less than clear that this was the most useful way…
One doesn’t have to be Catholic, an existentialist, Spanish, nor indeed even a “believer” of any sort, to appreciate Miguel de Unamuno. One only needs an appreciation of a distinctive quality of mind — but that intellectual virtue, what with the prevailing lazy abridgments characteristic of ideologues, usually squawking the loudest — is in short supply…
Here is a recent paper by a young Philo scholar, Deborah Forger (glad some youngsters are engaging with Philo). And when I say scholar I mean scholar — not to be confused with many who are merely “regurgitation generators” for some trendy ism or other. Though officially listed here behind a paywall, the paper is…
The ever thoughtful Douglas Murray at Unherd. “Nobody in the West can be wholly non-Christian,” he says, in a central passage. “You may call yourself non-Christian, but the dreams you dream are still Christian dreams, and you continue to be part of the history of Christianity. That’s your fate. You may consider yourself secular,…
Excerpt from The Sense of the Past: Essays in the History of Philosophy (2007) Plato invented the subject of philosophy as we know it. He lived from 427 to 347 bc, and he is the first philosopher whose works have come down to us complete. He is also the first to have written on the full…
A couple of months ago I took to task the Philo entry in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. I have just noticed that in the interim a more nuanced entry of Philo has recently appeared in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — and one that actually cites and acknowledges Runia. Oddly enough, Lévy does not mention E.…
My copy arrived today. A quick glance at the bibliography, i.e. making sure the work of David Runia is consulted, bodes well. Philo’s creation theology marks an important watershed in Western civilization. Within Judaism he ushers in a more philosophical approach to the creation, which subsequently receives more attention that it had during the Second…
manwithoutqualities 