The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Religion
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
I, at least, would consider this a disgrace.” For he knew, I reckon,
“that the knowledge of many things does not educate the mind,”[974]
according to Heraclitus. And in the fifth book of the _Republic_,
he says, “‘Shall we then call all these, and the others which study
such things, and those who apply themselves to the meaner arts,
philosophers?’ ‘By no means,’ I said, ‘but like philosophers.’ ‘And
whom,’ said he, ‘do you call true?’ ‘Those,’ said I, ‘who delight in
the contemplation of truth. For philosophy is not in geometry, with
its postulates and hypotheses; nor in music, which is conjectural; nor
in astronomy, crammed full of physical, fluid, and probable causes.
But the knowledge of the good and truth itself are requisite,--what
is good being one thing, and the ways to the good another.’”[975]
So that he does not allow that the curriculum of training suffices
for the good, but co-operates in rousing and training the soul to
intellectual objects. Whether, then, they say that the Greeks gave
forth some utterances of the true philosophy by accident, it is the
accident of a divine administration (for no one will, for the sake of
the present argument with us, deify chance); or by good fortune, good
fortune is not unforeseen. Or were one, on the other hand, to say that
the Greeks possessed a natural conception of these things, we know the
one Creator of nature; just as we also call righteousness natural; or
that they had a common intellect, let us reflect who is its father,
and what righteousness is in the mental economy. For were one to name
“prediction,”[976] and assign as its cause “combined utterance,”[977]
he specifies forms of prophecy. Further, others will have it that some
truths were uttered by the philosophers, in appearance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account