Philosophical Background of First Century Christianity

Teachers /
Dates

Epicureanism

Stoicism

Epicurus (341-270 BC) systematic and

unified approach that he gave to every
part of philosophy. Formed school in
garden at Athens. Catechismal method.
Later Epicureans: Hermarchus of
Mitylene, Polystratus, Colotes, Patro,
Demetrius of Lacon, Apollodorus, Zeno
of Sidon, Phaedrus, Titus Carus,
Seneca, Diogenes Oenoanda, Palladas.

Early (300-200 BC): Heraclitus, Parmenides,

Socrates, Antisthenes, Crates, Zeno of Citium .
Middle (200 BC - 1 AD): Cleanthes of Assos,
Chrysippus of Soli , Panaetius of Rhodes,
Poseidonius.
Late (1 - 200 AD): Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus
Aurelius, Corinthus, Herocles

Jewish-Greek (Philo)
Judaeus Philo (15 BC - 45 AD) Alexandria,
Greek speaking Jewish philosopher. Might be
considered the 'first theologian', philosophy was
significant to him primarily as handmaid of
theology. Wrote Allegories of the Laws, On the
Special Laws, On the Eternity of the World, On
Providence, That Every Good Man is Free, On
the Contemplative Life. Influenced by Aristotle
and had many ideas from Platonists and Stoics.

Neoplatonism
Plato (427-347 BC) lived in Athens, influenced
by Socrates, set up famous Academy
Later heads of Plato's Academy: Speusippus,
Xenocrates, Arcesilaus, Philo of Larissa,
Antiochus of Ascalon,
Middle Neoplatonists: Albinus, Numenius,
Later Neoplatonist: Saccas, Plotinus,
Porphyry, Jamblichus, Sallustius, Proclus,
Origen

Stoicism had beginnings in a changing world,

Philosophical The art of living, to assure happiness
Problem tried and supply means to achieve it. Derive in which earlier codes of conduct and ways of
the most temporal pleasure from life.
understanding were no longer suitable.
to solve

Tried to provide Jewish conceptions with the

Tried to balance value of religion in opposition
hallmark of intellectual and cultural respectability to Epicureanism, and the freedom of the will in
by stating them in Greek philosophical terms.
opposition to the Stoic determinism.

Epistemology Scientific Rationalism - Religion and

concepts of God arise through
/ Logi c
(Knowledge) ignorance and fear. If there are gods,
they are far off and indifferent. Present
life is all a person has. Since no
supernatural beings to fear or obey, the
good life is one bringing the most
pleasure now. Denied that something
can come from or be rooted in nothing.

Ethical Rationalism - Knowledge arises solely

from perceptions. Class-concepts (ideas) are
subjective but are nevertheless shared by all
men as a common rationality, hence the
existence of common sense and innate ideas.
Truth is that which accords with common sense
as the common consent of rational men. Men
become virtuous through knowledge.

Rationalism - All science is known inductively

from experience. Knowledge can be deduced by
syllogistic reasoning. Logic divided into three
parts 1) basic modes of being (ten) that are
apprehended by single concepts and definitions,
2) the union and separation of these modes of
being as expressed by judgments, 3) the way the
mind passes from reasoning about known truth to
unknown.

Rationalism, intuitionism, dualism, doctrine of

ideas, classical idealism - Reason and insight
discover in perceptual phenomena the
universals i.e. the Ideas or intelligible Forms of
reality. Knowledge has as its object 1) what
really is i.e. being, essence, the Ideas or
Forms and 2) virtue which is gained only
through right knowledge or cognition of true
Being.

Metaphysics / Pluralism-Reality was understood to be

Cosmology composed of indivisible, qualitatively
(Reality)
similar atoms of matter eternally "falling"
in empty space. To account for human
agency in a mechanistically material
universe, Epicurus posited an
unexplainable swerve in the travel of
some atoms that caused them to strike
other atoms unpredictably. This, in
turn, caused a chain reaction which
resulted in the physical world we know
inhabited by human agents.

Fatalism-Whatever happens is necessary and

unavoidable, there is only divine and no human
control. Whatever is foreordained will always.
Human control limited to resignation to the will
of God. Nothing happens by accident or
chance. No one is ever free, responsibility is
impossible.
Monism / teleology-reality is single interrelated
whole as world-being or vital principle unfolding
in world. A purposefully creating and guiding
Reason (logos), the all-ruling Providence.
Reason (logos) is binding on all things as
Necessity -Destiny (determinism) Determinism
as necessity is combined with teleology to
become providential guidance.

Teleology- Reality is what unfolds in phenomena,

it involves matter (that in which things exist) and
form (that which organizes or directs matter).
Universals are in particular things only.
Fundamental reality is being itself. Contrary to
Plato, held that formal structures are to be found
in the individual things they determine.
Foundation of reality is not an abstract essence
but an individual substance. Nature characterized
by change. Change involves actualization of
potential. Actualization or becoming results from
cause. Final Cause of all reality is unchanging,
unmoved mover or pure form. Reality is a
process by which potentiality acquires actuality in
interest of actualizing pure form.

Mysticism / Emanationism - Reality is the One

f rom which all existence emanates and to
which all strives to return. It is of the nature of
the One to emanate. Emanation begins with
the ideas that structure existence and link
Being to Nonbeing. Ideas emanate souls,
which in turn emanate bodies or matter.
Matter exhausts emanation in a plurality of
physical beings that have a kind of negative
existence but are essentially Nonbeing or
absence of Being. Souls are individual and
animate bodies. Souls participate in the world
mind. Souls find their ultimate destiny in
escape from matter and return to the One
Being.

Ethics
(Values)

Teleological ethical theory - concerned

primarily with ends or the good rather
than with moral obligation as such.
Moral value has priority over moral
obligations. Value or rightness is
dependent on goodness of action or
consequences. Concluded that chief
end is pleasure, particularly of the mind.
Pleasure is the equilibrium of the being
with itself, existing wherever there is no
pain. Concluded that "freedom from
pain in the body and from trouble in the
mind" is the ultimate aim of a happy life.

Deontological ethical theory - concerned

primarily with moral obligation, the right, rather
than ends or consequences. Moral obligation
relates to duty, the ought or rightness. Right is
resignation to duty and indifference to
consequences. Considerations of moral
obligation have priority over considerations of
moral value. Stresses the self-evident nature
of the right as revealed to reason intuition or
moral sense. Stoics were also somewhat
teleological in their effort to achieve apatheia
(imperturbability) as the state of perfection.

Functionalism, Eudaemonism - Man has a

complex nature which like other substances tries
to complete or perfect itself. Man has reason
which must rule the various human appetites.
The goal is happiness or well-being. Happiness
is the operation of all parts of human nature
under reason for an entire life. Every moral
virtue is intellectual mean between two extremes
i.e. courage is the mean between cowardice and
foolhardiness. Intellectual virtues are the
crowning pleasures of a happy life.
Contemplation and prayer are the most
fundamental intellectual virtues.

Spiritualism, Self realization, doctrine of

immortality - Soul / mind is preexistent and
immortal. The soul links the body as
phenomena (becoming) to the Ideas (being).
Soul establishes this link through three
functions: 1) appetites (sensuous desires), 2)
will, 3) reason. The supreme good is justice.
Justice is obtained with temperance of
appetite and courage of the will guided by
wisdom. Wisdom is desire and search for and
finally knowledge of the Good. Held that
matter is inherently evil and the source of
moral evil.

Politics
(Society)

Promotes individuality since the goal is

self pleasure. Encouraged a life of
withdrawal in contemplation and escape
from worldly affairs.

Stoic is world citizen obliged to play an active

role in public affairs. Promoted the ideal of a
common humanity, bonded together through
acts of mutual benefit. Encouraged "natural
law" for society, based on the essential moral
nature of all its members.

Man is a political being in need of community to

attain to his highest perfection. Community is
needed because there the common good takes
precedence over individual good, which is only
part of it. The proper goal of politics is happiness
and virtue for all citizens.

Platonic political philosophy sets forth three

political classes: philosopher-kings, the military
and the workers. Possible forerunner of
communistic philosophy with elite leaders,
strong military and comrades of the working
class.