Kolokvia k antické filosofii | Lucia Lombardi: Philo of Alexandria and (Some of) His Sources

Invitation.pdf

Handout.pdf

Abstract

This paper reconsiders the role of the Chaldeans in Philo of Alexandria within the broader framework of cosmological and theological debates between the late Hellenistic and early Imperial periods. Rather than functioning merely as representatives of an ancient Eastern wisdom, the Chaldeans appear in Philo as philosophically significant interlocutors in discussions concerning divine causality, the eternity of the cosmos, and the status of matter.

By focusing on the interaction between Platonism, Stoicism, and Pythagorean traditions in Philo’s works, the paper argues that references to the Chaldeans participate in a broader anti-physicalist and apologetic strategy. Particular attention will be devoted to the relationship between cosmology and transcendence, as well as to the ways in which Philo integrates Greek philosophical categories into a Mosaic framework centered on the active and providential role of God.

The paper ultimately aims to show that the figure of the Chaldeans sheds light on the intellectual transformations of early Imperial Platonism and on the complex negotiations between philosophy, theology, and cultural identity in Hellenistic Judaism.