Platonic Asceticism in Philo of Alexandria’s Contemplative Practice
Though Philo of Alexandria’s ascetic beliefs and practices often have been noted, a focused assessment of the Platonic influences on his contemplative asceticism has yet to be offered. While addressing that shortcoming, this essay identifies a number of key Platonic themes. Like Plato’s Socrates, Ph...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal for the study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman period
Year: 2025, Volume: 56, Issue: 1, Pages: 34-59 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Philo, Alexandrinus 25 BC-40
/ Plato 427 BC-347 BC
B Asceticism (Motif) B Body (Motif) / Soul (Motif) / Practice / Contemplation (motif) (Motif) / Noetics |
| Further subjects: | B
Contemplation
B Philo of Alexandria B Esotericism B Plato B noetic ascent B Asceticism |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Though Philo of Alexandria’s ascetic beliefs and practices often have been noted, a focused assessment of the Platonic influences on his contemplative asceticism has yet to be offered. While addressing that shortcoming, this essay identifies a number of key Platonic themes. Like Plato’s Socrates, Philo is capable of expressing a range of opinions concerning embodied existence and the roles of body and soul in noetic contemplation. Though generally pursuing a path of moderation, the rigorous demands of noetic contemplation necessarily call for extreme and austere praxes, as well as vigorous effort. Philo’s belief that the suppression of the bodily senses affords the expression of the spiritual senses also is Platonic in origin, as is his oft-stated conviction that the contemplative’s diminished desire for bodily pleasure is a natural consequence of a more powerful, innate attraction to the Forms and the noetic realm. A final and perhaps most important Socratic influence is detected in the esoteric meditative techniques Philo uses to effect the out-of-body experiences that afford mystical contemplation. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0631 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman period
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700631-bja10096 |
