Folia Theologica 19. (2008)

Perendy László: Judging Philosophers - Theophilus of Antioch on Hellenic inconsistency

204

PERENDY, László

denies the existence of divine providence. In this he contradicts the tragic poets. As a consequence, he also denies the existence of religion. His assertions are contradictory to the truth, says Theophilus. Theophi- lus is not the only author from the end of the second century who strongly criticizes the Epicureans for denying providence. The famous physician, Galen in his work On the Usefulness of Parts (written between 169 and 176) also strongly condemns the Atomists, including the Epicureans.28

Later Academy

'H oùk oîôaç oxi ánávxcov npaypáxcov rj itiaxiç nporiyeîxat; Tiç yàp óúvaxai Gspíaoa yeœpyôç, èàv pf) npœxov 7uaxEÚar| xô onèppa XT) yfj; ’'H xiç (tiàécov) ôùvaxai ôia7tepâaoa xf|v GàA,aoaav, èàv pf) Ttpœxov èauxôv 7uaxeùar| xffi nÀoico Kai xffl KußEpvfixri; Tiç ôè Kápvcov öúvaxat GepomcDGfjvai, èàv pf| Ttpœxov éamôv Ttiaxeuari xffi iaxpœ; Lloiav ôè xeyv-qv fj èrucxripriv Súvaxaí xtç paGcîv, èàv pf] îtpœxov èTttôœ èauxôv Kai tuoxeúgti xœ ÔtôaoKàA,co;

"Do you not know that faith leads the way in all actions? What farmer can harvest unless he first entrusts the seed to the earth? Who can cross the sea unless he first entrusts himself to the ship and the pilot? What sick man can be cured unless he first entrusts himself to the physician? What art or science can anyone learn unless he first delivers and entrusts himself to the teacher?" (I 8)

'Onóaa. ôè KAixôpayoç ó ÀKaôripaÏKÔç TtEpî àGEÔxrjxoç Eior|- yfjoaxo (èœ).

"Furthermore, Clitomachus the Academie philosopher introduced many arguments for atheism." (Ill 7)

Carneades (KapVEàôriç) was bom in Cyrene c. 214. "The most prominent member of the later Academy after Arcesilaus. Carneades was a distinguished sceptic (...) His philosophical originality lay in admitting a concept of the plausible (to pithanon), perhaps better thought of

28 Cf. T. Tieleman, Galen and Genesis, in G. H. van Kooten (ed.), The Creation of Heaven and Earth. Re-interpretations of Genesis I in the context of Judaism, ancient philosophy, Christianity, and modern physics, Leiden-Boston, 2005, 125- 145,129.