God's acting, man's acting : tradition and philosophy in Philo of Alexandria / by Francesca Calabi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Calabi, Francesca, 1948-

Series:

Studies in Philo of Alexandria ; v. 4.

Studies in Philo of Alexandria ; v. 4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philo, of Alexandria.

Philo.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (279 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The topic tackled in this book is Philo’s account of the complex, double-sided nature of God’s acting – the two-sided coin of God as transcendent yet immanent, unknowable yet revealed, immobile yet creating – and also the two sides of acting in humans – who, in an attempt to imitate God, both contemplate and produce. In both contexts, divine and human, Philo considers that it would not be proper to give precedence to either side – the result would be barren. God’s acting and man’s acting are at the same time both speculative and practical, and it is precisely out of this co-presence that the order of the world unfolds. Philo considers this two-sided condition as a source of complexity and fertility. Francesca Calabi argues that, far from being an irresolvable contradiction, Philo’s two-fold vision is the key to understanding his works. It constitutes a richness that rejects reduction to apparently incompatible forms and aspects.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / F. Calabi

Chapter One. Plato And The Bible. Ontology And Theology In Philo / F. Calabi

Chapter Two. Simplicity And Absence Of Qualities In God / F. Calabi

Chapter Three. Unknowability Of God / F. Calabi

Appendix One. The Dazzling Light: A Metaphor On The Unknowability Of God / F. Calabi

Chapter Four. The Powers Of God. Seraphim, Cherubim And Powers In Philo Of Alexandria / F. Calabi

Chapter Five. Roles And Figures Of Mediation / F. Calabi

Chapter Six. The Snake And The Horseman Pleasure And Sophrosyne In Philo Of Alexandria / F. Calabi

Chapter Seven. Happiness And Contemplation. The Contemplative Life / F. Calabi

Conclusion / F. Calabi

Appendix Two. Philo Of Alexandria And Ecphantus’ Peri Basileias / F. Calabi

Appendix Three. Galen And Moses / F. Calabi

Bibliography / F. Calabi

Index Of Ancient Authors And Texts / F. Calabi

Index Of Modern Authors / F. Calabi.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [233]-246) and indexes.

ISBN:

1-281-93988-9

9786611939885

90-474-3160-X

OCLC:

646789523

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004162709.i-265 DOI