Environmental Perspectives in Ancient Greek Philosophy and Religion

doi:10.1017/9781108860666.009

8 - Environmental Perspectives in Ancient Greek Philosophy and Religion

from Part II - Histories

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 July 2022

Crystal Addey

Edited by

Alexander J. B. Hampton and

Douglas Hedley

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Alexander J. B. Hampton: Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Douglas Hedley: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

Ancient Greek philosophy has often been dismissed as irrelevant to contemporary environmental thought or part of the problem in environmental terms because of its apparent dualism and anthropocentrism; Plato is often seen as emblematic of this philosophical stance. Following the research of Timothy Mahoney, this chapter calls into question this characterisation of Plato’s philosophy. Additionally, it examines the environmental perspectives of several philosophers within the later Platonic tradition, whose philosophy was closely connected with ancient Mediterranean religions and has been largely marginalised and excluded from the canon of western philosophy. This chapter argues that there is an important strand in ancient philosophy which is participatory, relational and ecocentric, depicting the philosopher as rooted in place and landscape, and necessitating the philosopher’s recognition of the interconnectedness and sacredness of the natural world and the kinship and ensouled nature of all beings and natural entities. As such, this chapter suggests that ecocentric environmental perspectives can be discerned within Platonism (especially within late antique theurgy) and that, consequently, this strand of ancient philosophy has a great deal to offer to environmental ethics and contemporary environmental thinking on nature and the natural world.

Keywords

Plato Plotinus Iamblichus Proclus Neoplatonism theurgy participation immanence place landscape

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Companion to Christianity and the Environment , pp. 115 - 133

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108860666.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

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