La 'radice della mente' in Phil. Quod. Deter. 84-85. Breve analisi di una metafora astrologica

Philo of Alexandria employs the famous Platonic simile of man as a "celestial plant" in a peculiar and original way which reveals an astrological presupposition. Philo claims that the roots of this celestial plant are implanted into the sphere of fixed stars; this is part of the physical world though characterised by regular and uniform motion. Philo's characterization of the Platonic simile is to be read in the light of the astrological theories about celestial influences, from which human mind must be preserved.