"Platonic" Philosophy and Quotation

Platonic Philosophy and Epiphanian Quotation

By the fourth century, the metaphysical separation forms the basis for virtually all forms of metaphysical reasoning. This mode of thought, which is already in evidence in disciples of Pythagoras, commonly bears the name Platonic because Plato constructed the most prominent adaptation.[1] This separation divids the world of shadows; the experiential world, from the real world; the world known to man only through concerted intellectual effort in pondering its tangible effects on the world of shadows.

Under this system of thought, all that people can perceive empirically is secondary or even inconsequential in comparison to the referent. Scripture, it seems, holds a tenuous position as bridge between the worlds. Scripture may be closer to true reality, but it is not reality itself, only a reflection of reality. This concept of scripture as reference helps to explain Epiphanius’ use of scriptural quotations. Epiphanius is likely intending to reference truths behind scripture as his authority rather than referencing scripture itself, and assuming this is his intent, his habit of overlooking the literary context of his quotations makes sense.

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[1] Huffman

Note: My writing process requires that I include footnotes only to those works which I had to consult in the process of writing, at least until a later draft, so there will not be many refrences included until the sections approach their final form.