Phi201 - Neoplatonism and Christianity

Neoplatonism and Christianity - some affinities and tensions

In Alexandria, we have a line of thinkers relevant to the Judeo Christian/Platonist nexus

1. Philo of Alexandria (c.25B.C-40A.D)

famous for pioneering allegorical interpretation of scripture in the light of philosophy. Philo identifies the Platonic Good/One (still int he realm of Being) with the Judaic God. Though God/The One is a being for Plato (unlike in Platinus), He is above the Forms and so is not amenable to being grasped intellectually.

(Platinus would later take further this placing of the One above the Forms, and would say that the One transcends not just the forms but Being itself.)

How to interpret this claim by Platinus is open to debate.

In keeping with this transcendence of the Forms, God for Philo cannot be literally described as having properties. All that we can say that is literally true is that He is not wise in the humanly graspable sense. (Via negation, "negative thinking") this idea has a great future ahead of it is the work of Pseudo- dionysius and later John EnSOMETHING) Our usual positive theology is "via affirmation" These (something) are synthesized in "via emination" - god is 'super-wise' in a sense we can't grasp.

Highest human state is a mystical relation to God. Not the virtual identity you get in Platinus tough. Philo's other innovation is the idea of the Forms dwelling in an Intellect mediating between God and material world - a 'heavenly Adam' or 'archangel'

Inferior angels help in creation of world (a Gnostic-style element.)

Origen of Alexandria - Early Father - Apologist - (185-254A.D)

Student of Ammonieus Saecus, who was the teacher of Platinus. Head of Catechetical School in Alexandria. Two major works De Principii [see excerpts] and Contra Celsum (reply to a Platonist attack of Christianity)

Good example of how the Platonic/Christian affinities and tensions work.

Origen identified God with the One, Christ with Logos/the Intellect, and Holy Spirit with world-soul. For him the way the plagial arises (by emanation) is the same as the way the Sun arises from the Father. This has the effect of either divisises the physical world or likening the way the Sunarises to creation(as opposed to begetting) this has an Arian flavour.... mm chicken.