The Literal (ῥητή or φανερά / ẓāhir) and the Hidden (ὑπόνοια / bāṭin) in Philo of Alexandria and the Islamic Philosophical Tradition

Abstract

  In his well-known work on Philo of Alexandria, Harry A. Wolfson argues that Philonic philosophy is the preamble to the “religious philosophies” of the three Abrahamic traditions. Among several coincidences and similarities between Philo and each of the religious philosophies, Wolfson highlights one particularly important: all three traditions found in their respective Scriptures two meanings, one literal (ῥητή or φανερά) and one hidden (ὑπόνοια). Each of these philosophical traditions sought —in its own way— an allegorical method of interpretation. Such a method the Church Fathers learned directly from Philo. And from the Church Fathers it would have been transmitted, according to Wolfson, to Islam and Judaism. The most widespread version among historians of philosophy has been that neither Islam nor Judaism had direct contact with Philo. In any case, it could have been an indirect influence. Despite the ambiguities in this regard, this article aims to elucidate possible similarities between the notions of ῥητή or φανερά and ὑπόνοια and their Arabic equivalents, ẓāhir and bāṭin