Since 1963 the seriesPatristische Texte und Studienhas been publishing research findings coordinated by the Patristics Commission, which today is a joint venture of all the German Academies. The series is presenting editions, commentaries and monographs on the writings and teachings of the Church Fathers.

This interpretation and commentary of the first book of Augustine's earliest extant work Contra Academicos establishes for the first time a close relationship between the topicalisation of various methods for imparting knowledge in the first book of the dialogue (reading, conversation, divination) and the argument with the sceptics. The disputed role of Cicero's protreptic dialogue Hortensius as a reference text is clarified. The commentary furnishes detailed analyses of the argumentative structure and a wealth of information on philological, historical and philosophical issues.

Autorentext

Diss. phil. Zürich 2001. Die Autorin ist Fellow der Society for the Humanities an der Cornell University, Ithaca N.Y.,USA.