Prolegomena to Philosophy and the Ascetic Ordering of Knowledge

Book chapter


Champion, Michael Wesley. (2023). Prolegomena to Philosophy and the Ascetic Ordering of Knowledge. In In Ayres, L., Champion, M. and Crawford, M. (Ed.). The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity : Reshaping Classical Traditions pp. 569 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.032
AuthorsChampion, Michael Wesley
EditorsAyres, L., Champion, M. and Crawford, M.
Abstract

This chapter compares the epistemological assumptions of late-antique Prolegomena to Philosophy with those of the Didaskaliai of Dorotheus of Gaza, a sixth-century ascetic teacher. It focuses on the epistemic role of godlikeness, the claim that the goal of philosophy, understood in terms of either Neoplatonism or the monastic life, is to become like God. In both Neoplatonism and in Dorotheus’ teaching, the concept of godlikeness orders knowledge and promotes ways of knowing developed in order to bridge the gap between the politico-ethical and the spiritual, the practical and the theoretical. Comparing Dorotheus’ teachings with the Introductions to Philosophy identifies substantial shared epistemic assumptions. A key difference between the schemes is generated by the epistemic role of humility in Dorotheus’ account.

KeywordsDorotheus of Gaza; prolegomena to philosophy ; ascetic education; godlikeness epistemology
Page range569
589
Year01 Jan 2023
Book titleThe Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity : Reshaping Classical Traditions
PublisherCambridge University Press
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
ISBN9781108883559
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.032
Web address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/intellectual-world-of-late-antique-christianity/prolegomena-to-philosophy-and-the-ascetic-ordering-of-knowledge/556DEFC634BC4B7930445E6E073669F1
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Online05 Oct 2023
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Deposited31 May 2024
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