Integral approach Sample Clauses

Integral approach. I will follow Xxxxxxxxxx’x proposal for an integral approach to explore Xxxxx’x thoughts. Xxxxxxxxxx already criticised approaching Xxxxx by quoting passages from his treatises almost at random to illustrate a point someone wishes to make. Instead of using Philo as quarry, Xxxxxxxxxx emphasised that it is important to have a grasp of the place a certain passage has within a treatise, and what place that treatise has in the whole of Xxxxx’x oeuvre, to understand what Xxxxx writes about.160 Xxxxxxxxxx further presented Xxxxx as 160 Goodenough, Introduction, p. 20. This approach is comparable to what Xxxxx describes as ‘the contextual approach’ in Runia, ‘Naming and Knowing’, pp. 69–72. Runia distinguishes roughly three approaches towards the description of Philo’s theology. These are: first, the systematic approach, where scholars ‘attempt to put together, on Xxxxx’x behalf, the systematic presentation of his doctrine of God, which he never managed (or dared) to publish’; second, the historical approach, where Xxxxx’x theology is mainly described and explained by linking and comparing his ideas and concepts to those of other authors, such as Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx; and third, the contextual approach, where Xxxxx is considered first and foremost an exegete, and where the starting point is taken with the analysis of someone fully integrated and interacting with his cultural surroundings, both on an intellectual and on a more popular level. Xxxxxxxxxx did not consider Xxxxx’x Jewishness as something separated from this cultural background.161 Xxxxxxxxxx therefore avoided classifying Xxxxx’x ideas as either belonging to his Jewish or his Hellenistic background and education. It took quite some time for these views to take hold in Philonic research.162 Although picking through Xxxxx’x works to illustrate a certain point still occurs occasionally, strictly differentiating between Greek or Jewish elements in Xxxxx’x thinking is hardly done anymore.163 However, one could consider attributing a special character to Xxxxx’x interaction with the Bible, setting him apart from contemporary intellectuals who explored other authoritative ancient sources, a rudimentary trace of this approach. Still, the current state of affairs in Philonic research in general is that Xxxxx is considered a Jewish thinker fully engaged and interacting with his intellectual, cultural and political environment, and that it is necessary to consider the full context of a passage to interpret wha...