Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Thales of Miletus (7tha ' 6th century BC) is regarded as one of the most important figures in Greek philosophy and science. In spite of this little is known of his life beyond a few anecdotes, and none of his works have survived directly. In this volume Andreas Schwab for the first time examines a large number or references to Thales in early Christian authors, both western and eastern theologians. The resulting stimulating picture of Thales and his ideas are analysed and commented on in detail.
Synopsis
thales of Miletus (7th-6th centuries BC) is regarded as one of the most important figures in Greek philosophy and science. In spite of this we know few anecdotes about his life, and none of his work has survived directly. This was one of the main reasons behind Andreas Schwab's work, who for the first time commented on more than one hundred passages in early Christian authors on Thales' life and works. These are documented in a new collection of testimonies on Thales (Traditio Presocratica vol 1, 2009). Particular attention is paid to the topics of literary discourse and the argumentative contexts within which reference is made to Thales. The commentary is not intended as a reconstruction of Thales' life and teaching, rather the portrayals of his figure and ideas, as well as their function in later periods are analyzed and commented on with reference to the Christian texts. The Latin texts range from Tertullian to Augustine and Isidore of Seville, the Greek texts from the first apologists to Eusebius of Caesarea and the Chronicle of John Malalas. The interdisciplinary nature of this innovative, diachronous history of Thales' "image" furthers both research into early Greek philosophy, as well as a deeper understanding of early Christian philosophy and theology.
Synopsis
Thales von Milet (7.-6. Jh. v. Chr.) gilt als eine der bedeutendsten Figuren der griechischen Philosophie und Wissenschaft. Dennoch sind von seinem Lebennur wenigeAnekdoten bekannt und von seinem Werk ist nichts direkt berliefert. Durch seine Untersuchung erschlie t Andreas Schwab erstmals eine gro e Zahl von Textzeugnissen fr hchristlicher Autoren, sowohl westlicher wie stlicher Theologen, die sich ber Thales u ern. Dieses spannungsreiche Nachleben des Thales und seiner Ideen wird eingehend untersucht und kommentiert.