God's acting, man's acting : tradition and philosophy in Philo of Alexandria / / by Francesca Calabi.

• Superior document: Studies in Philo of Alexandria ; v. 4
• Author: Calabi, Francesca, 1948-
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Philo of Alexandria ; v. 4.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (279 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.
• Other title: Preliminary Material /; Chapter One. Plato And The Bible. Ontology And Theology In Philo /; Chapter Two. Simplicity And Absence Of Qualities In God /; Chapter Three. Unknowability Of God /; Appendix One. The Dazzling Light: A Metaphor On The Unknowability Of God /; Chapter Four. The Powers Of God. Seraphim, Cherubim And Powers In Philo Of Alexandria /; Chapter Five. Roles And Figures Of Mediation /; Chapter Six. The Snake And The Horseman Pleasure And Sophrosyne In Philo Of Alexandria /; Chapter Seven. Happiness And Contemplation. The Contemplative Life /; Conclusion /; Appendix Two. Philo Of Alexandria And Ecphantus’ Peri Basileias /; Appendix Three. Galen And Moses /; Bibliography /; Index Of Ancient Authors And Texts /; Index Of Modern Authors /
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. [233]-246) and indexes.
• ISBN: 1281939889; 9786611939885; 904743160X
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: by Francesca Calabi.

The topic tackled in this book is Philo’s account of the complex, double-sided nature of God’s acting – the two-sided coin of God as transcendent yet immanent, unknowable yet revealed, immobile yet creating – and also the two sides of acting in humans – who, in an attempt to imitate God, both contemplate and produce. In both contexts, divine and human, Philo considers that it would not be proper to give precedence to either side – the result would be barren. God’s acting and man’s acting are at the same time both speculative and practical, and it is precisely out of this co-presence that the order of the world unfolds. Philo considers this two-sided condition as a source of complexity and fertility. Francesca Calabi argues that, far from being an irresolvable contradiction, Philo’s two-fold vision is the key to understanding his works. It constitutes a richness that rejects reduction to apparently incompatible forms and aspects.