Popular Philosophy and Early Christianity: Texts and Uses

The research project "Popular Philosophy and Early Christianity: Texts and Uses" is the continuation of a long‐term project on popular philosophy. In my previous research I provided a provisional description and a working definition of popular philosophy. I also analyzed some ancient texts as examples of popular‐philosophical texts and demonstrated how popular‐philosophical ideas, motifs, and topoi were used by Greco‐Roman authors, including authors of biblical texts (see the list of publications included below). From the feedback received from colleagues it became clear that the project requires more extensive treatment. During the period for which sponsorship is applied I will focus on especially two aspects of popular philosophy: (a) popular‐philosophical texts as non‐technical philosophical communication and (b) the use of popular philosophy by non‐professional authors, including early Christian authors.
The research problem on which I will focus during the period of research in Berlin is two interconnected aspects of popular philosophy. The first concerns the characteristics of popularphilosophical texts and the typical concepts, themes, and topoi found in such texts. The second aspect is how such concepts, themes, and topoi were used in non‐philosophical texts, including biblical and early Christian texts.