The italic philosophers’ noology and rational theology in the evidence of ancient doxography

The article is devoted to the study of the “Italic school” philosophers’ noological doctrines in the context of ontology, epistemology and rational theology. Due to the limited nature of the extant fragments, the study is based mainly on the evidence of later doxography. The noological views of Pythagoras and his followers Philolaus, Archytas, Timaeus, Epicharmus, and Ekphantus are considered. The rational-theological elements of Xenophanes’ philosophy are also analyzed. In addition, the noological ontology of Parmenides, the criticism of its “materialistic” interpretation are investigated, and alternative translations of his fragments are proposed. Finally, Empedocles’ teaching about the intellect and its boundaries is presented.