The Logos according to Philo of Alexandria

Abstract

This chapter highlights the Alexandrian philosopher Philo who ventures the world of Platonic, or more precisely Middle Platonic, philosophy in Jewish garb. It talks about how Philo's God is absolutely transcendent. To refer to him, Philo uses the Platonic term to on, “that which exists,” or ho agenētos, “the Uncreated One.” The chapter emphasizes that everyone knows that God exists, but they will never know what he is or his essence. Nevertheless, emanating from this God are “forces” or “powers”, facets of the unknowable and unattainable God, which through many stages embody the transcendent to on and enable its transition down to our visible world. It also focuses on Logos, who is responsible for the emergence of the purely intelligible world of ideas and Wisdom for the world perceived by senses.