Philo's Therapeutae

Several journals have a sample issue available on their website; this is the case with Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha too. The volume presently available as such a sample issue contains the following article on Philo's Therapeutae: Mary Ann Beavis,
Philo's Therapeutae; Philosopher's Dream or Utopian Construction? Vol. 14, No. 1 (2004), pp. 30-42. The abstract given runs thus: "This article takes issue, on rhetorical and geographical grounds, with Engberg-Pedersen’s (1999) argument that Philo’s De Vita Contemplativa is a ‘philosopher’s dream’. Further, it is argued that while Philo’s description of the Therapeutai/Therapeutrides is shaped by Hellenistic utopian conventions,particularly Iambulus’ account of the Islands of the Sun (Diodorus Siculus 2.55-60), Philo’s account is sober and realistic enough to suggest
that he was describing a real community of Jewish contemplatives of which he had direct knowledge." I have a certain feeling that I have mentioned this article on this blog some time ago, but as I can't find any such postings of mine, I give it here. You can download the article (in .pdf format) by clicking HERE.