Culto cittadino e filosofia negli scritti di Porfirio di Tiro

Civic Worship and Philosophy in the Writings of Porphyry of Tyre · Porphyry seems to hold an ambivalent attitude towards traditional religious practice, based on oracles and bloody sacrifices, and towards all forms of religious ritual in general: in some writings, he prescribes its observance and valorises its philosophical depth, while in others he expresses his thought in strongly critical terms. A key to interpreting his theses is given by the notion of justice as ‘doing one’s part’: the philosopher cannot live and celebrate the cult like his fellow citizens and thus exposes himself to their hostility, but precisely because he does his part, he contributes to the maintenance of order and possible justice in the city.