Filosofizzazione del cristianesimo
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Date
2021
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Wydawnictwo KUL
Abstract
Laddove la cultura ellenica nei suoi aspetti più importanti scomparve all’avvento della religione cristiana, solo la filosofia greca sopravvisse, anzi trovò nella nuova situazione culturale forme di sviluppo originali. Perciò noi dovremmo parlare di filosofizzazione, piuttosto che di ellenizzazione del cristianesimo. Inizialmente gli autori cristiani erano avversi alla filosofia, ma poi prevalse la linea di Giustino, di Clemente e di Origine secondo cui essa poteva rappresentare una propedeutica a una comprensione colta della fede: certo non tutta la filosofia greca ma soltanto il filone platonico e aristotelico. Da queste specifiche fonti i Padri della Chiesa trassero concetti e argomentazioni utili per due scopi: il primo, la dimostrazione del libero arbitrio a supporto dell’etica, e della provvidenza divina in funzione della teodicea; il secondo, la critica dei miti e culti pagani e delle contemporanee sette eretiche. In particolare la confutazione del manicheismo impiegò su larga scale le strutture formali dell’ontologia aristotelica. La filosofizzazione divenne parte integrante dell’identità e della visione cristiana del mondo.
Whereas all major aspects of the Hellenic civilization faded away at the triumph of the Christian religion, only Greek philosophy remained, and found some original developments inside the new cultural environment. Therefore, we should speak of philosophization rather than the hellenization of Christianity. Many earlier Christian authors were indeed hostile towards philosophy, yet Justin’s, Clement’s and Origen’s line prevailed, saying it could provide a propedeutic to the understanding of faith, although not as a whole but specifically in its Platonic and Aristotelian tradition. The Church Fathers gathered from the repertoire of these sources most notions and topics useful for two aims: firstly, the assumption of free will supporting ethics, and the demonstration of divine providence as a pivot for theodicy; secondly, the refutation of pagan idolatry and contemporary heresies. Above all, against the Manicheans they made wide use of the key concepts drawn from the Aristotelian ontology. The philosophization has become an integral part of Christian identity and vision.
Whereas all major aspects of the Hellenic civilization faded away at the triumph of the Christian religion, only Greek philosophy remained, and found some original developments inside the new cultural environment. Therefore, we should speak of philosophization rather than the hellenization of Christianity. Many earlier Christian authors were indeed hostile towards philosophy, yet Justin’s, Clement’s and Origen’s line prevailed, saying it could provide a propedeutic to the understanding of faith, although not as a whole but specifically in its Platonic and Aristotelian tradition. The Church Fathers gathered from the repertoire of these sources most notions and topics useful for two aims: firstly, the assumption of free will supporting ethics, and the demonstration of divine providence as a pivot for theodicy; secondly, the refutation of pagan idolatry and contemporary heresies. Above all, against the Manicheans they made wide use of the key concepts drawn from the Aristotelian ontology. The philosophization has become an integral part of Christian identity and vision.
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Keywords
Ellenizzazione del cristianesimo, Patristica, teodicea, ontologia aristotelica, Hellenization of Christianity, Patristic Thought, Theodicy, Aristotelian ontology
Citation
"Verbum Vitae", 2021, T. 39, nr 3, s. 915-940