him. This view also agrees with the biblical narrative in the book of Gene-
sis. Philo maintains that long before Hesiod Moses was the source of inspi-
ration for this doctrine and gives a (rare) biblical reference to the book of
Genesis.
The doxographic sequence above shows that Philo envisioned an as-
cending order that finds its high point in Moses as the ultimate guarantee
of the doctrine that the cosmos is created and indestructible. In his other
major work,On the Creation of the World(7–12), Philo gives clarifications
to the doxography outlined here. Together with most Platonists and
against the Aristotelians, he accepts the view that the world is created. In
theory it should come to an end, but it is preserved from destruction by
the will and providence of the Creator. It remains unclear whether Philo
thought that God created matter, out of which the world is fashioned, or
that matter preceded the creation of the world. Moreover, Philo did not
perceive creation as a creation in time, since time only originated with the
world, but rather as depending for its existence on an external cause.
The exposition sets the stage for the remainder of the work, in which
Philo continues at length arguing the three positions outlined above.That Every Good Man Is Free
(Quod omnis probus liber sit)
That Every Good Man Is Freeis about the freedom of the just according to
Stoic principles. At the beginning of the treatise Philo informs his readers
that it is the sequel of another work (now lost), entitledThat Every Bad
Person Is a Slave.Philo develops the Stoic paradox that only the wise per-
son is free. The paradox states that things generally considered desirable
belong only to the virtuous. The premise of this thought is that the only
good is that which is morally good.
After a general introduction and praise of wisdom and the soul, Philo
comes to his main point: that of true freedom. True freedom, like true sov-
ereignty, means following God and freeing oneself from passions and de-
sires. It can be postulated that in his previous work on slavery Philo would
have argued the converse: that being a slave is being dependent on passions
and desires. The idea is that wise persons alone master their emotions, de-
sires, and fears. After some digressions on contempt of death, bravery, and
obedience, Philo gives examples of free persons who, like Moses, are happy
and friends of God. They are free because of their voluntary actions and275PhiloEERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
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