More on Philo's Therapeutae

Studies on Philo's Therapeutae seem to be popular these days; here is another new article, published in Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha (again thanks to Jim Davila's PaleoJudaica blog for the info):
Mary Ann Beavis, 'Philo’s Therapeutai: Philosopher’s Dream or Utopian Construction?' Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha Vol. 14 No. 1 (September 2004):30-42. Abstract: 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.The main article that she takes issue with is this one by the Danish scholar Troels Engberg-Pedersen, 'Philo's De vita contemplativa as a philosophers dream.' Journal for the Study of Judaism 30 (1999): 40-64.