Journal of the History of Philosophy

BOOK REVIEWS 87 framework. Noteworthy is also the author's comment that in this tradition of "psychological guidance" man's individuality was seen, but that because of the rather narrow frame of reference it could not develop very much (pp. 29 ft.). The second part of the investigation is devoted to Seneca's doctrines of "psychological guidance" in particular. He is found to be more or less in agreement with the rest of ancient philosophy. For him the highest goal was the "eudaimonia." More for practical than for theoretical reasons he emphasized the partial goals as leading to the "eudainomia." "True knowledge" must not only be known, but must be firmly acquired through "exercise" and "regular practice." As such it becomes "knowledge as habitus," and leads to "securitas" and "tranquillitas animi" which are the two most important aspects of the "vita beata.'" How much of a chance is there for a man who sincerely wishes to achieve these goals? An answer to this question requires further theoretical consideration of the problems of man's natural inheritance of bad influences from the cultural environment Ihome and school!), and of his age in regard to the rise and defeat of evil in him. In addition, the functions of self-knowledge and will, as well as of the role of the "psychological guide" as "friend" and "authority" must be taken into account. In conclusion, the author discusses the question of the relationship between the traditions and Seneca's originality. She recognizes that his significance cannot be seen in new ideas, which he is not interested in introducing, but in the rigorous reworking of the older traditions and their effective literary presentation and distribution. The volume is further enriched by an extensive bibliography and indices. In spite of the wealth of material available, the study under review is worked out entirely on the basis of primary sources. With great competence and methodologaca! clarity, the author has succeeded in explaining Seneca's views and relating them to the philosophical tradition of his time. Her work is also helpful in that she often takes pains to relate the issues to present day psychology and pedagogy. Special mention should be made of the fact that she always treats Seneca's doctrines in relation to the literary forms which he employs. There can be no doubt that the author has made a highly significant contribution, not only to research on Seneca, but to the history of ancient anthropology and ethics. HANS DmTER BETZ School of Theology at Claremont Gregory o[ Nazianzus: Rhetor and Philosopher. By Rosemary Radford Ruether. (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1969. Pp. viii+ 184. $5.50) The Greek Church Fathers have attracted attention in recent years along with the increasing interest in Byzantine civilization. Nevertheless, studies of their works are still rare in any language, especially English. Of these Greek thinkers, Gregory of Nazianzus, overshadowed as he is by his compatriot and friend, Basil the Great, tends to be particularly neglected. Rosemary Radford Ruether's book, Gregory o[ Nazianzus: Rhetor and Philosopher, is thus remarkable by the mere fact that, according to 88 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY Miss Ruether's. bibliography, it is the only fuU-length study of Gregory's thought written in the past thirty years. The book deserves attention for more legitimate reasons, however. Written in a lively style and providing some excellent translations of Greek material, it avoids the usual pitfalls of such works: purely peripheral or merely linguistic concerns. Miss Ruether's aim is to present Gregory's thought and to fit it into the history of the period when Hellenism and Judaism met and modern western cultural tradition began. She does this by combining scholarship with a presentation which makes many of Gregory's problems directly relevant today. Thus, aside from the purely rhetorical study (Chapter II), the value of her work reaches beyond the scholar and specialist to the literate layman. This is particularly the case with the biographical section, taken mostly from Gregory's Poem on His Lile, which describes university life in Athens and the student problems of the early fourth century. Her general theme, the traditional conflict of rhetoric and philosophy, is somewhat confusingly presented in her...