Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part IV, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 105

Chapter VII.--What True Philosophy Is, and Whence So Called.

As we have long ago pointed out, what we propose as our subject is not the discipline which obtains in each sect, but that which is really philosophy, strictly systematic Wisdom, which furnishes acquaintance with the things which pertain to life. And we define Wisdom to be certain knowledge, being a sure and irrefragable apprehension of things divine and human, comprehending the present, past, and future, which the Lord hath taught us, both by His advent and by the prophets. And it is irrefragable by reason, inasmuch as it has been communicated. And so it is wholly true according to [God's] intention, as being known through means of the Son. And in one aspect it is eternal, and in another it becomes useful in time. Partly it is one and the same, partly many and indifferent--partly without any movement of passion, partly with passionate desire--partly perfect, partly incomplete.

This wisdom, then--rectitude of soul and of reason, and purity of life--is the object of the desire of philosophy, which is kindly and lovingly disposed towards wisdom, and does everything to attain it.

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