Chapter 8 Greek Philosophers in Monastic Schools: Syriac Forms of Doxography
In: Received Opinions: Doxography in Antiquity and the Islamic WorldSearch for other papers by Yury Arzhanov in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
Syriac forms of doxography reflect the changing forms of education in late antiquity and the early middle ages. The article presents three texts that showcase the main characteristics of Syriac pedagogical models. The inventory of the Greek sages preserved in the Syriac Ms. BL Add. 14620 shows the diverse picture of Greek antiquity in Syriac schools. This picture combines the academic philosophical tradition with Greek mythology and hermetic knowledge. The story of Secundus the Silent Philosopher not only suggested a pedagogical model for the education of young men, but also contained elements of natural philosophy. The philosophical treatise on first principles and prime matter that has been preserved in Ms. Dayr al-Suryān 27 and that most likely derived from Porphyry contains a large doxographical part. This treatise gives us a vivid example of the use of doxography in Syriac schools of the Early Medieval period.