Christian Platonism: A History

by Alexander J. B. Hampton (Editor), John Peter Kenney (Editor)

Platonism has played a central role in Christianity and is essential to a deep understanding of the Christian theological tradition. At times, Platonism has constituted an essential philosophical and theological resource, furnishing Christianity with an intellectual framework that has played a key role in its early development, and in subsequent periods of renewal. Alternatively, it has been considered a compromising influence, conflicting with the faith's revelatory foundations and distorting its inherent message. In both cases the fundamental importance of Platonism, as a force which Christianity defined itself by and against, is clear. Written by an international team of scholars, this landmark volume examines the history of Christian Platonism from antiquity to the present day, covers key concepts, and engages issues such as the environment, natural science and materialism.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, History, Christianity, Religion, Christian History, Church History

512 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2020

Reviews

[Zachary Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I read the first 300 or so pages previously for a class, and enjoyed this so much I came back to finish. As is typical of multi-contributors books, there are some essays that are better than others, but most of these are exceptional contributions to the subject of the Platonic influence on Christianity and related subjects. Christians desperately need to retrieve some of the Platonic metaphysics appropriated by the early church in order to counter the denial of essentialism and participation rife within modernity and postmodernity.

[David Haines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone who is remotely interested in philosophical or theological subjects, and the history, current status, and future of the same. Though the articles are not of equal quality or importance, the book is excellent and the articles (for the most part) are helpful.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful resource. Some chapters are knockouts. Overall, this is a very useful book in painting a broad picture depicting how Platonism has been received, critiqued, and reappropriated by Christians through the ages.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fantastic collection of essays that I found much more readable than I expected.

I only needed to read parts 1&2 so I have not read part 3.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I am still not 100% behind the term "Christian Platonism", but I can get behind the concepts articulated in parts 1 & 2.

Biggest criticism is the chapter "Christian Platonism, nature, and environmental crisis". Chapter was a bit woke and unnecessary.

[Josh Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great volume that covers a range of topics. It's divided into three main parts: conceptual, historical, and an excellent final section called "engagements" that links Christian Platonism to natural science, materialism, and other modern concerns. Several essays I'd point to as standouts:

I.3 "The One and the Trinity" - Andrew Radde-Gallwitz
I.6 "Participation: Aquinas and His Neoplatonic Sources" - Rudi A. te Velde
II.1 "The Bible and Early Christian Platonism" - Mark Edwards
II.8 "Christian Platonism in the Age of Romanticism" - Douglas Hedley
III.3 "Art and Meaning" - Charles Taliaferro
III.5 "Christian Love and Platonic Friendship" - Catherine Pickstock

Particularly in part one, there is a decent amount of repeated expository information that is useful for a novice, perhaps tedious for those more familiar than I am (i.e., like six authors make sure you know Ps.-Dionysius wasn't actually the Athenian). Still, I found it helpful as I am still getting a handle on Neoplatonism proper, if that is even a demarcation line that we should draw.

This would be a five-star review if not for one major drawback, which I will do my best to not hyperbolize: I was so astonished at the sheer number of typos/grammatical across the book, I actually can't remember a modern volume I've read with this many issues. At least one or two spelling errors in most chapters (sometimes multiple in the same paragraph), words omitted (including verbs!), and incorrectly conjugated/declined words all over the place. I read this as a research assistant and thus made recordings of myself reading aloud - I often had to backtrack to just make sense of what the text was supposed to say. Needless to say, I was astounded that a prestigious publishing house like Cambridge University Press would put this out.

Aside from that substantial issue, I really like this work. A reprinted edition would no doubt be a five star read!

[Josh Fisher]

Actually found this volume really helpful as someone with a poor grasp of metaphysics, the various manifestations of Platonism, and early Christian theology. Still would not say I fully understand any of those things, but this at least gave me a lay of the land and made me curious enough to dive deeper at some point in the near future. Maybe I'll finally crack open some Augustine lol. Especially appreciated the essay on "Christian Platonism and Modernity," which connected all of these strands to a period far more interesting/important to me

[Wyatt Graham]

My review: https://wyattgraham.com/christian-pla...