ENGLISH

Heresiography in Context: Hippolytus’ "Elenchos" as a Source for Greek Philosophy

By Jaap Mansfeld

Book information

Publisher
Brill Academic Publishers
Year
1992
ISBN
9004096167, 9789004096165
ISSN
0079-1687
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
36 MB (37594041 bytes)
Series
Philosophia Antiqua 56
Pages
xviii+394\416
DPI
300
Orientation
portrait
Paginated
yes
Scanned
yes
Time added
2016-07-06 16:12:44
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Description

The study of the "Elenchos" (c. 225 CE) involves the whole range of ancient interpretative traditions concerned with Greek Philosophy, from Aristotle to the Late Neoplatonists. The present inquiry places Hippolytus' important reports about the Greek philosophers in the context of these traditions and so is able to illuminate not only what he has to offer but also to increase our knowledge of the traditions he depends on. For him the Pythagoreanizing current in Pre-Neoplatonism is of paramount importance. Accordingly, he constructs a succession ("diadoche") starting with Pythagoras and including Empedocles, Heraclitus, Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics, and argues that the "diadoche" of the Gnostic heresiarchs is parasitical on its Pythagorean predecessor. A new assessment of the sources used the first serious attempt since that of Diels in 1879 hinges on an analysis of Hippolytus' method of presentation, which is a blend of cento and exegesis geared to his anti-Gnostic purpose."

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