Description
Book SynopsisThis first volume of the new Brill series “Ancient Philosophy & Religion” is a collection of articles by scholars of Classics, Ancient Philosophy, and Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity. The articles are based on papers presented at two colloquia on the interface between Ancient Philosophy and Religion at the universities of Aarhus and Cambridge. They focus extensively on Platonic philosophy and piety and sketch an emerging religio-philosophical discourse in ancient Judaism (both in the Sibylline Oracles and 4 Maccabees). Furthermore, this volume studies Seneca’s religio-philosophical understanding of 'consolation', compares early depictions of Jesus with those of ancient philosophers, and, finally, reconsiders responses of pagan philosophers to Christianity from the second century to Late Antiquity.
Trade ReviewThe scope signified by the title of this book is breathtakingly broad, but it actually does delineate the contents of the book reasonably well… A number of the essays are programmatic discussions of the conceptual puzzle posed by the books title, while others are close studies of particular texts. Among the latter kind, there is much more attention devoted to Platonism than to any other ancient philosophical school. But this is only the first volume in a series. It is a welcome contribution in its own right and gives us reason to look forward to more such. - Matthew V. Novenson, in: Journal for the study of the New Testament, 2018 The launch of this new series intended to foster research on the relationship between ‘Ancient Religion and Philosophy’ is only to be welcomed and applauded. And the volume to launch it opens up various ways to discuss the question. In fact, it poses more questions than it answers—and this is exactly what a volume opening a new scholarly series should do! - RAINER HIRSCH-LUIPOLD, Universität Bern, in: Journal of Theological Studies, 70.2 (2019)
Table of ContentsContents Part I: Plato 1 Plato’s Philosophy – Why Not Just Platonic Religion? Anders Klostergaard Petersen 2 Platonic Piety: ‘Putting Humpty Dumpty Together Again’ Frisbee Sheffield 3 The Real Euthrypho Problem, Solved Nicholas Denyer 4 Religion, Philosophy, and the Demons in Between Lars Albinus Part II: Explorations in an Emerging Common Discourse 5 Philosophical Traces in the Sibylline Oracles Helen Van Noorden 6 Philosophy and Religion and Their Interactions in 4 Maccabees Anders Klostergaard Petersen 7 The Rapprochement of Religion and Philosophy in Ancient Consolation: Seneca, Paul, and Beyond Christoph Jedan Part III: Placing Jesus Among the Philosophers 8 Jesus Among the Philosophers Bernhard Lang 9 The Last Days of Socrates and Christ George van Kooten 10 Criticism of Verbosity in Ancient Philosophical and Early Christian Writings Daniele Pevarello Part IV: Reconsidering Early Pagan-Christian Relations 11 Christians According to Second-Century Philosophers Simon Gathercole 12 Epictetus’ Views on Christians – A Closed Case Revisited Niko Huttunen 13 Plotinus, Origenes, and Ammonius on the ‘King’ Harold Tarrant 14 Neo-Platonic Readings of Embodied Divine Presence: Iamblichus and Julian Ilinca Tanaseanu-Döbler
