Book contents
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Cambridge Texts and Studies In Platonism
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables and Charts
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Rhetoric as an Instrument of Philosophy
- Part II Ethics
- Part III Political Science
- Chapter 14 Political Theory
- Chapter 15 Lady Philosophy and Politics in Late Antiquity
- Chapter 16 Simplicius on the Place of the Philosopher in the City (In Epictetum, ch. 32)
- Chapter 17 Souls and Cities in Late Antique Platonic Philosophy
- Chapter 18 The Legislation of the World and Human Legislation in Late Antique Platonism
- Chapter 19 Law and Legislator in the Philosophy of Julian the Emperor
- Chapter 20 Plato’s Tyrant in Neoplatonic Philosophy
- Part IV Mathematics
- Part V Metaphysics
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Index Locorum
- General Index
Chapter 19 - Law and Legislator in the Philosophy of Julian the Emperor
from Part III - Political Science
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 December 2025
Book contents
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Cambridge Texts and Studies In Platonism
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables and Charts
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Rhetoric as an Instrument of Philosophy
- Part II Ethics
- Part III Political Science
- Chapter 14 Political Theory
- Chapter 15 Lady Philosophy and Politics in Late Antiquity
- Chapter 16 Simplicius on the Place of the Philosopher in the City (In Epictetum, ch. 32)
- Chapter 17 Souls and Cities in Late Antique Platonic Philosophy
- Chapter 18 The Legislation of the World and Human Legislation in Late Antique Platonism
- Chapter 19 Law and Legislator in the Philosophy of Julian the Emperor
- Chapter 20 Plato’s Tyrant in Neoplatonic Philosophy
- Part IV Mathematics
- Part V Metaphysics
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Index Locorum
- General Index
Summary
Chapter 19 shows that the ideas described in Chapter 18 can be found in the writings of Julian the Emperor. Julian speaks of a hierarchy of laws, going down from divine paradigmatic laws to the laws of nature and to human laws (both universal and regional). I also describe Julian’s concept of the ideal legislator, how it relates to Iamblichus’ views, and I give an example of Julian’s legislation, that concerning funeral processions, and describe how this legislation is explained by Julian as relating to metaphysical principles.
Information
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- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique PlatonismSelected Essays, pp. 253 - 263Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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