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Philosophy and the view from above in Alejandro's Amenabar's agora

journal contribution
posted on 2012-10-01, 00:00 authored by Matthew Sharpe
This paper examines the depiction of neoplatonic philosopher, geometer and astronomer Hypatia in Alejandro Amenabar's 2010 fil Agora.  The paper uses Pierre Hadot's work, and his arguments that ancient philosophy was conceived as a way of life, aiming at the ideal existence of the sage, and characterised by spiritual exercises.  The paper argues that Amenabar's film employs the technique of the view from above, one such spiritual exercise, wherein the agent relooks at his or life sub spaecie aeternitatis or 'from above', to frame Hypatia's life and death, and the end of the pagan epoch in Alexandria.

History

Journal

Crossroads : an interdisciplinary journal for the study of history, philosophy, religion and classics

Volume

6

Issue

1

Pagination

31 - 45

Publisher

Queensland Association of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics Publishing Inc.

Location

St Lucia, Qld.

ISSN

1833-878X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

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