| Divination and Theurgy in Neoplatonism: Oracles of the Gods Contributor(s): Addey, Crystal (Author) |
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ISBN: 0367882191 ISBN-13: 9780367882198 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $52.24 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: December 2019 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical - Philosophy | Religious - Religion | Christianity - General |
| Dewey: 186.4 |
| Physical Information: 0.8" H x 6.1" W x 9.2" (1.15 lbs) 352 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Why did ancient philosophers consult oracles, write about them, and consider them to be an important part of philosophical thought and practice? This book explores the extensive links between oracles and philosophy in Late Antiquity, particularly focusing on the roles of oracles and other forms of divination in third and fourth century CE Neoplatonism. Examining some of the most significant debates between pagan philosophers and Christian intellectuals on the nature of oracles as a central yet contested element of religious tradition, Addey focuses particularly on Porphyry's Philosophy from Oracles and Iamblichus' De Mysteriis - two works which deal extensively with oracles and other forms of divination. This book argues for the significance of divination within Neoplatonism and offers a substantial reassessment of oracles and philosophical works and their relationship to one another. With a broad interdisciplinary approach, encompassing Classics, Ancient Philosophy, Theology, Religious Studies and Ancient History, Addey draws on recent anthropological and religious studies research which has challenged and re-evaluated the relationship between rationality and ritual. |