Post-Hellenistic Philosophy, Neoplatonism, and the Doxastic Turn in Religion:

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" Post-Hellenistic Philosophy, Neoplatonism, and the Doxastic Turn in Religion: "
Tuomo Lankila

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	1079207
Doc. No	:	LA122836
Call No	:	‭10.1163/15685276-12341418‬
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Tuomo Lankila
Title & Author	:	Post-Hellenistic Philosophy, Neoplatonism, and the Doxastic Turn in Religion: [Article] : Continuities and Ruptures in Ancient Reflections on Religion\ Tuomo Lankila
Publication Statement	:	Leiden: Brill
Title of Periodical	:	Numen
Date	:	2016
Volume/ Issue Number	:	63/2-3
Page No	:	147–166
Abstract	:	This article is inspired by Peter Van Nuffelen’s comparison between post-Hellenistic philosophy and Neoplatonism. The article defends the thesis of a fundamental break between ancient religions and new universal religions which became prevalent at the end of late antiquity. This break concerns not only fundamental doctrines but also the principles of how religious communities were constituted. There was a shift from the world of practice-oriented and reciprocally recognizing cults to the world of exclusive theocracies whose mindset emphasizes doctrinal confession. Some seeds of such a “doxastic turn” are to be seen in the post-Hellenistic philosophy and especially in the dogmatic tendencies of Middle Platonism. Thus, there is an observable route from the post-Hellenistic thought towards late ancient universal religions. Neoplatonism’s role in this historical drama is not that of precursor but, rather, it represents a deviation from the main line. This article is inspired by Peter Van Nuffelen’s comparison between post-Hellenistic philosophy and Neoplatonism. The article defends the thesis of a fundamental break between ancient religions and new universal religions which became prevalent at the end of late antiquity. This break concerns not only fundamental doctrines but also the principles of how religious communities were constituted. There was a shift from the world of practice-oriented and reciprocally recognizing cults to the world of exclusive theocracies whose mindset emphasizes doctrinal confession. Some seeds of such a “doxastic turn” are to be seen in the post-Hellenistic philosophy and especially in the dogmatic tendencies of Middle Platonism. Thus, there is an observable route from the post-Hellenistic thought towards late ancient universal religions. Neoplatonism’s role in this historical drama is not that of precursor but, rather, it represents a deviation from the main line.
Descriptor	:	“doxastic turn”
Descriptor	:	Late Antiquity
Descriptor	:	Neoplatonism
Descriptor	:	Proclus
Location & Call number	:	‭10.1163/15685276-12341418‬