Mysticism and rationalism in the teachings of Philo of Alexandria

The teaching of Philo of Alexandria is the pinnacle of Greek-Jewish syncretism of the Hellenistic era. In his writings, Philo attempted to unite Greek philosophy and Judaism into one unique philosophical system. His experience has been used for centuries by Christian philosophers and theologians. The study of the relation between the mystical and the rational in Philo's teaching is of particular interest for understanding the peculiarities of the development of Christian thought. The article examines mysticism and rationalism as components of Philo's teachings; it shows the contradictory and complex nature of the combination of his mystical and rational conceptions. Philo associates the rational-logical concept of the logos with Jewish theology. To do this, he uses the mystical orientation of Plato's teachings. As a result, Philo creates a theory of mystical cognition in which the rationalistic ideas of the Greek philosophers turn out to be an important element.