Abstract
The article consists of an analysis of Chapter 28 of the Didaskalikos of Alcinous, a compendium of Platonic doctrine which, most probably, goes back to imperial Platonism or Middle Platonism. In this chapter Alcinous sets out the doctrine of the τέλος (or the end of life, the ethical ideal) through the formula ὁμοίωσις θεῷ (“assimilation to god”). Beginning from a reading of the chapter, various solutions are proposed to exegetical problems, which are still debated, concerning the significance of this formula within Platonic ethics of the imperial period. In particular, a careful study of the identity of the ἐπουράνιος θεός (“the god above the heavens”), towards whom, so Alcinous specifies, ὁμοίωσις should be directed, has produced new results compared to the existing scholarly tradition. The final part of the article treats another passage relevant to the reception of the doctrine, raising doubts about the traditional reading as concerns the nature of the θεωρητικὸς βίος, which will emerge as the most comprehensive idea of philosophical life, which cannot be reduced to the contemplative life alone.
Ringraziamenti
Desidero ringraziare di cuore la professoressa Gretchen Reydams-Schils per i preziosi e frequenti dialoghi avuti durante la mia permanenza alla University of Notre Dame per la stesura della mia tesi di laurea, dialoghi a partire dai quali questo articolo ha preso forma. Un ringraziamento doveroso va anche al mio relatore di tesi, il professor Mauro Bonazzi, e al professor Alessandro Linguiti che hanno letto le prime bozze e mi hanno fornito utili osservazioni, critiche e indicazioni bibliografiche. Ringrazio anche la Société d’Études Platoniciennes al cui Atelier international ho presentato la prima redazione del presente contributo, e in particolare i professori Luc Brisson, Arnaud Mace e Olivier Renaut per i loro preziosi feedback. Ringrazio di cuore il professor Jan Opsomer per le sue numerose osservazioni e i suggerimenti sulla stesura finale del lavoro. Infine un ringraziamento va alla dottoressa Gloria Gaviraghi, che forse per prima mi ha spinto a interrogarmi sul significato di θεωρία nella filosofia antica, e alla dottoressa Giovanna Di Martino, per il prezioso aiuto nel rivedere e correggere il lavoro. Naturalmente solo ed esclusivamente mia è la responsabilità degli errori rimasti.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Titelseiten
- Aufsätze
- Was ist echt im 13. Kapitel der Aristotelischen Hermeneutik und was nicht?
- Quale dio per quale vita?
- Aristotle on Philoctetes’ Snake? Hom. Il. 2.721–725 and Ael. NA 4.57
- Politeness in Pronouns
- Sulla cronologia di Orazio, Odi I–III (seconda parte)
- Plinius exclusus (Ep. 7.5)
- 10.1515/phil-2017-0014
- Miszellen
- Die Rüstungsszenen in der Batrachomyomachie
- 10.1515/phil-2016-0120
- Ciris 121: An Emendation
- 10.1515/phil-2016-0130
- Hypercorrection in the Appendix Probi