Jewish Women Philosophers of First-Century Alexandria

Philo's 'Therapeutae' Reconsidered
Erscheinungsjahr 2006
ISBN: 978-0-19-929141-0
Verlag: OUP Oxford

Buch, Englisch, 440 Seiten, Format (B × H): 140 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 611 g

The first-century ascetic Jewish philosophers known as the 'Therapeutae', described in Philo's treatise De Vita Contemplativa, have often been considered in comparison with early Christians, the Essenes, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. This study, which includes a new translation of De Vita Contemplativa, focuses particularly on issues of historical method, rhetoric, women, and gender, and comes to new conclusions about the nature of the group and its

relationship with the allegorical school of exegesis in Alexandria. Joan E. Taylor argues that the group represents the tip of an iceberg in terms of ascetic practices and allegorical exegesis, and that the women described point to the presence of other Jewish women philosophers in Alexandria in the first century CE.

Members of the group were 'extreme allegorizers' in following a distinctive calendar, not maintaining usual Jewish praxis, and concentrating their focus on attaining a trance-like state in which a vision of God's light was experienced. Their special 'feast' was configured in terms of service at a Temple, in which both men and women were priestly attendants of God.

Zielgruppe

Scholars of religious studies, Jewish studies, ancient history, church history, classics, ancient philosophy, and women's history.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Taylor, Joan

Taylor, Joan E.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Antike Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologische Disziplinen Sexualpsychologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Nicht-Westliche Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien

Über Autor(innen)

Joan E.Taylor is Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand and Honorary Research Fellow at University College London.