So, what literary forms did Stoic philosophy take? A kind of moral catechism like the discourses of Musonius, sermons on philosophical themes like those of Dio Chrysostom, letters or treatises on spiritual direction, as in Seneca, talks aimed at spiritual … Read More
The controversy over the Eucharist, which took place in the middle of the 11th century, also called into question the scope of dialectics. Paschaeus Radbert (died around 860) had taught that, in the consecration, “by the power of the Spirit, … Read More
In a pamphlet entitled Aurora seu initia scientiae generalis, Leibniz contrasts the barbaric and primitive practice of drawing fire from the friction of pieces of wood with the learned practice of borrowing from the sun’s rays. “On the one hand, … Read More
Fénelon has precisely described the scope and nature of the deist movement which, in the first generations of the 18th century, especially in England and France, was so important: “The great fashion of the libertines of our time is not … Read More
To the doctrines which realize historical forces, such as “the spirit of the people”, the nation, the race, humanity, there corresponds a philosophy of nature which sees in nature and natural forces a stable and permanent reality; here again unity … Read More
This brilliant development of Stoicism continued in a completely different way with the Syrian Posidonius of Apamea (135-51). A great traveler and great observer of nature, he visited all the coasts of the Mediterranean, Sicily, the coasts of the Adriatic, … Read More
As for Pelagianism, the starting point of the conflict was an attempt at monastic reform by the monk Pelagius, who, in order to combat Christians who excused themselves, on the grounds of the weakness of the flesh, for not carrying … Read More
(Panetius of Rhodes) Panetius of Rhodes was one of the most curious characters of the late 2nd century. The friendship which linked Panetius (as well as the historian Polybius) to eminent Romans of his time, to Scipio Aemilianus and to … Read More
One of the first manifestations of a current of thought very distinct from Stoicism and Epicureanism in the 3rd century, in agreement with Stoicism in using dialectic and with Epicureanism in denying Stoic beliefs, but radically hostile to the dogmatism … Read More
This interpretation fits with the thesis of the plurality of worlds, one of Anaximander’s theses which will be taken up by Anaximenes; he admits, in fact, the simultaneous existence of several worlds which are born and perish within the eternal … Read More
Duns Scotus also seems to abandon the principle of universal analogy which, for Bonaventure and even for Saint Thomas, was the great driving force of continuity. By declaring that Being has a univocal and not equivocal meaning with regard to … Read More
Epicurus,” says Cicero, “has many very brilliant words; but he hardly cares to remain in agreement with himself.” (6) His philosophy is in fact one of those which proceeds by discrete and separate evidences, each of which is sufficient in … Read More
