Monday, January 19, 2004

Laval théologique et philosophique online

A Canadian journal, quite unknown to me so far, is now available on-line: Laval théologique et philosophique. It was originally established in 1945, but became on-line last December. Most of its articles seem to be in French, but some are in English. You can access the English website here; the French site here. The site has information about the Journal, subscription information, guidelines for contributors, and a search engine for published articles.
The main gist of its self-presentation runs thus:
"The LTP is a unique journal in Quebec and in Canada as much because of its content as its orientation. Following the examples of several great international journals, such as the Revue des sciences philosophiques et théologiques (Paris) and Theologie und Philosophie (Freiburg, Basel, Vienna) to name a few, it has the primary characteristic of being open to theological and philosophical reflection at the same time. In principle, it covers the field of both of these disciplines. In its thematic issues, the LTP approaches in a very special way the questions that are found in the crossroads of the two disciplines, which lends itself to interdisciplinary elaborations. Its mission is to guide its readers in the understanding and discussion of currents of thought and of the main new developments that closely touch Theology and Philosophy.
The journal has three objectives: broadcasting researchers' work, making a synthesis of major questions linked to modern-day theological and philosophical trends and opening new fields of investigation or research."

The articles of the 58.1-2 (2002) and 59.1 (2003) issues are infact available online both as html and as .pdf files, and more is to come in the near future.

Using its search engine, I found the following articles dealing with the works of Philo:
Anton-Hermann Chroust,
Some Comments on Philo of Alexandria, 'De aeternitate mundi',
Volume 31, no 2 (1975), pp. 135-145.
Abstract not available.

Jean Laporte,
Philonic Models of Eucharistia in the Eucharist of Origen,
Volume 42, no 1 (1986), pp. 71-91.
Abstract not available.

Jean Laporte,
'Models from Philo in Origen’s Teaching on Original Sin',
,Volume 44, no 2 (1988), pp. 191-203.
Abstract:
If we accept the idea that the notion of original sin is not necessarily measured by the patterns of Augustine and Aquinas, we may recognize the depth and diversity of its aspects in early Christian literature. The author studies this notion in Origen, and shows that Origen does not only depend on Paul, but is deeply influenced by Philo of Alexandria regarding the priority of evil in our life. After summarizing the positions of Philo, the author deals with Origen concerning pre-existence, the devils power, the Ages of life, the flesh, the Adamic seeds, Levitical defilement, and baptism, in their relation to original sin. In Origen, Adam is not the key figure of this doctrine as he is for Augustine.

Harold E. Remus,
Moses and the Thaumaturges : Philo’s De vita Mosis As a Rescue Operation,
Volume 52, no 3 (1996), pp. 665-680.
Abstract:
Philo’s extended treatment of Balaam in the De Vita Mosis, denigrating him as a mercenary technician, stands in sharp contrast to his portrait of Moses, the true prophet as well as philosopher-god-king, priest, thaumaturge, and mystagogue - the answer to the longing of Philo’s contemporaries for just such a figure. The writing thus serves to rescue Moses from possible misunderstandings of Moses as a mere thaumaturge or as a magician, a reputation attested in a variety of sources. Rather, Moses’ command over nature derives from the revelation, received on the mountain, of the noetic reality - knowledge he employs for the benefaction of others. The De Vita Mosis thus sets the great leader apart from Balaam-like thaumaturges and magicians in Philo’s Egypt, a land noted for such figures. The article situates the writing in a long tradition of rhetoric and biography employed as vehicles both of polemic and praise.

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