Overview

Porphyry, a native of Phoenicia educated in Athens and Rome during the third century AD, was one of the most important Platonic philosophers of his age. In this book, Professor Johnson rejects the prevailing modern approach to his thought, which has posited an early stage dominated by 'Oriental' superstition and irrationality followed by a second rationalizing or Hellenizing phase consequent upon his move west and exposure to Neoplatonism. Based on a careful treatment of all the relevant remains of Porphyry's originally vast corpus (much of which now survives only in fragments), he argues for a complex unity of thought in terms of philosophical translation. The book explores this philosopher's critical engagement with the processes of Hellenism in late antiquity. It provides the first comprehensive examination of all the strands of Porphyry's thought that lie at the intersection of religion, theology, ethnicity and culture.

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9780511998546

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Reviews

'Anyone interested in the philosophical and religious world of late antiquity should read this indispensable work ...it is a pleasure to read because it is well argued, well organized, and original. Johnson has an intimate knowledge of all the relevant ancient sources and his mastery of the scholarly literature is superb.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review 'This is a fine work ... It will be useful for students of Hellenistic philosophy ... Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty.' P. W. Wakefield, Choice Anyone interested in the philosophical and religious world of late antiquity should read this indispensable work ...it is a pleasure to read because it is well argued, well organized, and original. Johnson has an intimate knowledge of all the relevant ancient sources and his mastery of the scholarly literature is superb. Bryn Mawr Classical Review This is a fine work ... It will be useful for students of Hellenistic philosophy ... Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty. P. W. Wakefield, Choice

'Anyone interested in the philosophical and religious world of late antiquity should read this indispensable work ...it is a pleasure to read because it is well argued, well organized, and original. Johnson has an intimate knowledge of all the relevant ancient sources and his mastery of the scholarly literature is superb.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review 'This is a fine work ... It will be useful for students of Hellenistic philosophy ... Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty.' P. W. Wakefield, Choice

Author Information

Aaron Johnson is Assistant Professor of Humanities and Classics at Lee University, working on the intellectual and cultural history of late antiquity. He is also the author of Ethnicity and Argument in Eusebius' Praeparatio Evanglica (2006).

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