Prophecy in Plutarch and Philo of Alexandria
In: Journal for the Study of JudaismSearch for other papers by Matthew J. Klem in
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Abstract
David Winston distinguishes two types of Mosaic prophecy in Philo’s De vita Mosis, noetic and ecstatic. Noetic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s delivery of the special laws, is active and rational. Ecstatic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s predictive prophecies, is passive and irrational, though while some Greek authors view ecstasy in terms of a total possession by the god, Philo takes a more moderate view that can also be found in Plutarch. Winston’s appeal to Plutarch is the basis of this article. It explores ecstasy in Plutarch’s two dialogues on the Pythian oracle and applies Plutarch’s categories to Mosaic prophecy in De vita Mosis. In light of Plutarch’s discussion, noetic prophecy is actually passive, and ecstatic prophecy is actually active.
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Prophecy in Plutarch and Philo of Alexandria
In: Journal for the Study of JudaismSearch for other papers by Matthew J. Klem in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
David Winston distinguishes two types of Mosaic prophecy in Philo’s De vita Mosis, noetic and ecstatic. Noetic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s delivery of the special laws, is active and rational. Ecstatic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s predictive prophecies, is passive and irrational, though while some Greek authors view ecstasy in terms of a total possession by the god, Philo takes a more moderate view that can also be found in Plutarch. Winston’s appeal to Plutarch is the basis of this article. It explores ecstasy in Plutarch’s two dialogues on the Pythian oracle and applies Plutarch’s categories to Mosaic prophecy in De vita Mosis. In light of Plutarch’s discussion, noetic prophecy is actually passive, and ecstatic prophecy is actually active.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 752 | 224 | 17 |
| Full Text Views | 89 | 43 | 4 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 393 | 86 | 10 |
