Please join us October 12th for the Maritain Theology Forum! This week Greg Cruess (Theology) will present his paper, "Origen and the Epistemic Transformation of the Biblical Wisdom Tradition"
Abstract: The thought of Origen of Alexandria can be described as sapiential in a manifold sense. The thesis of this paper is that Origen’s primary identification of Christ as Wisdom in On First Principles (Peri archōn) demonstrates an integral transformation of Christian interpretation of the biblical wisdom literature and establishes its identification of wisdom as an epistemic framework. While not confined to his reasoning in this text, his investigation of human knowledge is here articulated significantly in reference to “those who train themselves to become worthy and capable of receiving wisdom” (PArch pref.3). This task implies connections to wisdom and knowledge as philosophically conceived (e.g., in Platonic and Aristotelian teaching), but Origen makes clear that such a reception of wisdom is predicated upon knowing the one from whom it can be received. Through a Christological reading, he integrates the biblical desire for wisdom as a personal epistemic task, with “the immeasurable treasures of divine knowledge" revealed in Christ that render the cosmos intelligible and the seeker “more capable of receiving instruction” (PArch 2.11.4).
Each meeting consists of a presentation on a project in theology or an adjacent discipline, followed by a period of comments/questions from other participants. The workshop is designed to give contributors the opportunity to develop ideas and receive helpful feedback on projects/papers in a friendly and low stakes environment.
Lunch is provided for registered attendees.