Word and meaning in ancient Alexandria : theories of language from Philo to Plotinus

During the late Hellenistic and early Imperial periods (B.C. 50 - A.D. 300), important developments may be traced in the philosophy of language and its relationship to mind. Focusing on two basic issues, why is language intelligible and how is communication possible, Robertson traces some related attempts to reconcile immaterial, intelligible reality and the intelligibility of language, explain the structure of language, and clarify the nature of meaning. These shared problems are handled with greater philosophical sophistication by Plotinus, although the comparison with Philo, Clement, and Or. & nbsp;Read more... Philo -- Divine logos and human language -- Characteristics of mind -- Immateriality of mind -- The physical and the immaterial -- The nature of meaning -- The inferiority of speech -- The stoic legacy -- Clement -- The divine logos -- Dialectic and language -- The intelligibility of language -- Language, immateriality, and prayer -- Origen -- Christian platonism, psychology -- The immateriality of mind -- Voice and language -- Mind and body in language -- Other influences -- Plotinus -- The metaphysics of language -- Image and representation -- The logos of plotinus -- Limitations of language, origins of language -- The nature of language -- Soul and body, light and sound -- Language and communion -- Soul connection -- The unity of souls in politics During the late Hellenistic and early Imperial periods (B.C. 50 - A.D. 300), important developments may be traced in the philosophy of language and its relationship to mind. This book examines theories of language in the work of theologians and philosophers linked to Ancient Alexandria. The growth of Judaism and Christianity in cultural centers of the Roman Empire, above all Alexandria, provides valuable testimony to the philosophical vitality of this period. The study of Later Greek philosophy should be more closely integrated with the Church Fathers, particularly in the theologically sensitive issue of the nature of language. Robertson traces some related attempts to reconcile immaterial, intelligible reality and the intelligibility of language, explain the structure of language, and clarify the nature of meaning. These shared problems are handled with greater philosophical sophistication by Plotinus, although the comparison with Philo, Clement, and Origen illustrates significant similarities as well as differences between Neoplatonism and early Jewish and Christian philosophy. Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction 16 1 Philo 24 2 Clement 44 3 Origen 60 4 Plotinus 78 Conclusion 112 Bibliography 114 Index Locorum 124 Index of Names and Subjects 128 A 128 B 128 C 128 D 128 E 129 F 129 G 129 H 129 I 129 J 129 K 129 L 129 M 130 N 130 O 130 P 130 R 131 S 131 T 132 V 132 W 132