Overview

Platonism has played a central role in Christianity and is essential to a deep understanding of the Christian theological tradition. At times, Platonism has constituted an essential philosophical and theological resource, furnishing Christianity with an intellectual framework that has played a key role in its early development, and in subsequent periods of renewal. Alternatively, it has been considered a compromising influence, conflicting with the faith's revelatory foundations and distorting its inherent message. In both cases the fundamental importance of Platonism, as a force which Christianity defined itself by and against, is clear. Written by an international team of scholars, this landmark volume examines the history of Christian Platonism from antiquity to the present day, covers key concepts, and engages issues such as the environment, natural science and materialism.

Full Product Details

Author:   Alexander J. B. Hampton (University of Toronto) ,  John Peter Kenney (Saint Michael's College, Vermont)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.20cm , Height: 3.20cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.880kg
ISBN:  

9781108491983

ISBN 10:   1108491987
Pages:   512
Publication Date:   17 December 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Christianity and Platonism Alexander J. B. Hampton and John Peter Kenney; Part I. Concepts: 1.1 The perennial value of platonism Lloyd Gerson; 1.2 The ideas as thoughts of God John Dillon and Daniel J. Tolan; 1.3 The one and the trinity Andrew Radde-Gallwitz; 1.4. Creation, begetting, desire, and re-creation in Christian platonism Kevin Corrigan; 1.5 The concept of theology Olivier Boulnois; 1.6 Participation: Aquinas and his Neoplatonic sources Rudi A. te Velde; Part II. History: 2.1. The Bible and early Christian platonism Mark Edwards; 2.2 Platonism and Christianity in late antiquity John Peter Kenney; 2.3 The development of Christian platonism in the medieval west Lydia Schumacher; 2.4 Christian platonism in Byzantium Torstein Tollefsen; 2.5 Renaissance Christian platonism and ficino Stephen Gersh; 2.6 Northern renaissance platonism from Cusa to Böhme Cecilia Muratori and Mario Meliadò; 2.7 Christian platonism in early modernity Derek A. Michaud; 2.8 The counter-enlightenment and romantic platonism Douglas Hedley; 2.9 Christian platonism and modernity Joshua Levi Ian Gentzke; Part III. Engagements: 3.1 Christian platonism and natural science Andrew Davison and Jacob Holsinger Sherman; 3.2 Christian platonism, nature and environmental crisis Alexander J. B. Hampton; 3.3 Art and meaning Richard Viladesau; 3.4 Value, dualism and materialism Charles Taliaferro; 3.5 Christian love and platonic friendship Catherine Pickstock; 3.6 Multiplicity in Earth and heaven Stephen Clark; Index.

Reviews

''What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?' Tertullian famously asked. For every Christian thinker like Tertullian or Adolph Harnack who questioned the relation between Platonism and Christianity, there have been at least dozen others who have welcomed Platonism in its many varieties as an invaluable conversation partner in the effort to express the inner meaning of Christian faith and its commitment to transcendence. Christian Platonism: A History is a bold and comprehensive study of the interaction of the Platonic tradition and Christian thought over the past two millennia. More than twenty essays by noted scholars explore the concepts, the history, and the implications of Christian Platonism in a stunning new contribution to a perennial issue.' Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago Divinity School 'It is hard now to remember that just a few decades ago it was generally assumed that a 'dePlatonising' of Christianity was desirable. Today, the intimate relationship between Christianity and something broadly 'Platonic' from the outset is often seen as ineradicable and essential. Moreover, a deepening comprehension of this relationship is regarded as one key to a creative development of Christian theology and practice in the future. The essays in this splendid volume by a glittering array of distinguished scholars and thinkers explain exactly why.' John Milbank, University of Nottingham 'This comprehensive collection of essays elucidates why Jerusalem cannot leave Athens behind. The superb quality of Hampton and Kenney's book witnesses to the continuing relevance of the participatory ontology of the Christian tradition.' Hans Boersma, Nasthotah House Theological Seminary 'Far from considering Christian Platonism a mere stepchild, skirting the bounds of theological doctrine with remarkable spiritual fervor, this volume embraces and explores its richness as a font and wellspring of organic wisdom. I warmly recommend it.' Willemien Otten, University of Chicago Divinity School 'This book is a most welcome contribution to the burgeoning scholarly literature on Christian Neoplatonism. Neoplatonism is the longest and most enduring tradition in the history of philosophy and yet perhaps the most neglected. The Neoplatonic principle that all things are one in the One, that itself is Goodness beyond being, has inspired philosophers, theologians, and poets, and provided the very framework for the Christian tradition (and also heavily influenced Judaism, Islam and even later Indian thought). This edited volume, by internationally acclaimed scholars addresses this neglect with a comprehensive treatment, explaining in a readable manner the central concepts, themes of Neoplatonism and its engagements with science, religion and the arts.' Dermot Moran, Boston College

''What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?' Tertullian famously asked. For every Christian thinker like Tertullian or Adolph Harnack who questioned the relation between Platonism and Christianity, there have been at least dozen others who have welcomed Platonism in its many varieties as an invaluable conversation partner in the effort to express the inner meaning of Christian faith and its commitment to transcendence. Christian Platonism: A History is a bold and comprehensive study of the interaction of the Platonic tradition and Christian thought over the past two millennia. More than twenty essays by noted scholars explore the concepts, the history, and the implications of Christian Platonism in a stunning new contribution to a perennial issue.' Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago Divinity School 'It is hard now to remember that just a few decades ago it was generally assumed that a 'dePlatonising' of Christianity was desirable. Today, the intimate relationship between Christianity and something broadly 'Platonic' from the outset is often seen as ineradicable and essential. Moreover, a deepening comprehension of this relationship is regarded as one key to a creative development of Christian theology and practice in the future. The essays in this splendid volume by a glittering array of distinguished scholars and thinkers explain exactly why.' John Milbank, University of Nottingham 'This comprehensive collection of essays elucidates why Jerusalem cannot leave Athens behind. The superb quality of Hampton and Kenney's book witnesses to the continuing relevance of the participatory ontology of the Christian tradition.' Hans Boersma, Nasthotah House Theological Seminary 'Far from considering Christian Platonism a mere stepchild, skirting the bounds of theological doctrine with remarkable spiritual fervor, this volume embraces and explores its richness as a font and wellspring of organic wisdom. I warmly recommend it.' Willemien Otten, University of Chicago Divinity School 'This book is a most welcome contribution to the burgeoning scholarly literature on Christian Neoplatonism. Neoplatonism is the longest and most enduring tradition in the history of philosophy and yet perhaps the most neglected. The Neoplatonic principle that all things are one in the One, that itself is Goodness beyond being, has inspired philosophers, theologians, and poets, and provided the very framework for the Christian tradition (and also heavily influenced Judaism, Islam and even later Indian thought). This edited volume, by internationally acclaimed scholars addresses this neglect with a comprehensive treatment, explaining in a readable manner the central concepts, themes of Neoplatonism and its engagements with science, religion and the arts.' Dermot Moran, Boston College 'This wonderful book will be of use to scholars and students for many years to come … Highly recommended.' A. Jaeger, Choice 'Gratitude is due to the editors for their attempts to weave the history of Christian Platonism into a larger tapestry depicting the history of Platonic thought within the Abrahamic traditions.' Sean Hannan, Reading Religion

Author Information

Alexander J. B. Hampton is Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Toronto, specialising in metaphysics, poetics and nature. He is the author of Romanticism and the Re-Invention of Modern Religion (Cambridge, 2019) and co-editor of the forthcoming Cambridge Companion to Religion and the Environment. John Peter Kenney is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Saint Michael's College. He is the author of Mystical Monotheism: A Study in Ancient Platonic Theology (1991), The Mysticism of Saint Augustine: Rereading the Confessions (2005), Contemplation and Classical Christianity: A Study in Augustine (2013), and On God, the Soul, Evil, and the Rise of Christianity (2018).

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions