Book chapter
Theory of mind from Athens to Augustine: Divine omniscience and the fear of God
The Routledge Handbook of Classics and Cognitive Theory, pp.270-279
Routledge, 1
2019
DOI: 10.4324/9781315691398-17
Abstract
This chapter introduces the theory of mind – how we infer the mental activity of others, and reflexively, how they infer ours – as related to the ancient world. Theory of mind is a key concept in various area of cognitive studies, but I focus on recent anthropological treatments emphasizing its culturally constructed basis over its universal features. While sources do not allow for a detailed construction of any single ancient culture’s theory of mind, one aspect is clearly traceable through surviving ancient Near Eastern and Graeco-Roman texts: the conviction that one’s thoughts are accessible to others, whether divine or human. Early Christian sources in particular warn that private thoughts are perceived by God, by certain holy persons, and, at the last judgment, by everyone; monastic writings in particular provide evidence for how this sense of personal cognitive accessibility was developed in disciples.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Theory of mind from Athens to Augustine: Divine omniscience and the fear of God
- Creators
- Paul C Dilley
- Contributors
- Peter Meineck (Editor)William Michael Short (Editor)Jennifer Devereaux (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- The Routledge Handbook of Classics and Cognitive Theory, pp.270-279
- Edition
- 1
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781315691398-17
- Alternative title
- Theory of mind from Athens to Augustine
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2019
- Academic Unit
- Religious Studies; Classics; Interdisciplinary Studies Program
- Record Identifier
- 9984398178902771
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