Word and Meaning in Ancient Alexandria: Theories of Language from Philo to Plotinus. By David Robertson
This book compares the endeavours of four thinkers, all of whom we may loosely describe as Alexandrian, to explain how the mere transmission of sound from the larynx to the ear can suffice to convey a thought from one mind to another. Philo is commended for his equation of thoughts with meaning, whi...
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| Format: | Electronic Review |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2009
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| In: |
The journal of theological studies
Year: 2009, Volume: 60, Issue: 1, Pages: 274-276 |
| Review of: | Word and meaning in ancient Alexandria (Aldershot, Hants, England : Ashgate Pub. Ltd, 2008) (Edwards, Mark)
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| Further subjects: | B
Book review
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This book compares the endeavours of four thinkers, all of whom we may loosely describe as Alexandrian, to explain how the mere transmission of sound from the larynx to the ear can suffice to convey a thought from one mind to another. Philo is commended for his equation of thoughts with meaning, which (whatever it signifies) would appear to be an innovation. At the same time, he remains enough of a Stoic to subordinate the vocal logos to the mental one, and enough of a Jew to subordinate human ratiocination to the timeless and all-encompassing thought of God. Clement, according to Robertson, ascribes the intelligibility of words in Scripture not to any inherent propensity of thought to attire itself in speech, but to God's inscrutable power of communication. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-4607 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of theological studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jts/flp021 |