哲学王国中的巾帼：西方历史上的女性哲学家
2021-08-30 15:51 来源：深圳社会科学
二、古典时代：亚历山大城的希帕提娅
论及西方历史上的女性哲学家，恐怕首先要提到希腊化时期生活在亚历山大城（Alexandria）的希帕提娅（Hypatia，约350～415）。希帕提娅的父亲席昂（Theon,335～405）是亚历山大城图书馆最后一位馆员，也是当时著名的数学家、天文学家以及被称为“Mouseion”的新柏拉图主义学派的领袖。因此，希帕提娅从小便得以在据说拥有50万册藏书的亚历山大城图书馆博览群书，同时从她父亲那里学习了新柏拉图主义的哲学。希帕提娅的同时代人、耶教史学家苏格拉底（Socrates of Constantinople/ Socrates of Scholasticus,380～450）曾经在其《教会史》（Ecclesiastical History）中对希帕提娅有这样的描述：“亚历山大城中有位名为希帕提娅的女子，乃哲学家席昂之女，不但在文学与科学领域造诣精深，哲学方面也远超其同辈。作为柏拉图与普罗提诺学派的继承人，她向听众讲解他们的哲学思想。听众中许多人不远千里而来，为的是能得到她的指导。由于教养良好，希帕提娅具有一种沉着从容、平易近人的气质。她经常出现在公共场合以及当地行政长官的面前，从不因参与男性的集会而羞怯。由于希帕提娅超凡的尊严与美德，男性们只有更加敬爱她。”[5]由此可见，希帕提娅在当时作为一位博学的哲学家和教师已经名满天下。
[5]“There was a woman at Alexandria named Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher Theon, who made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time. Having succeeded to the school of Plato and Plotinus, she explained the principles of philosophy to her auditors, many of whom came from a distance to receive her instructions. On account of the self-possession and ease of manner which she had acquired in consequence of the cultivation of her mind, she not infrequently appeared in public in the presence of the magistrates. Neither did she feel abashed in going to an assembly of men. For all men on account of her extraordinary dignity and virtue admired her the more.”转引自Tomthy E. Greory, A History of Byzantium.Wiley-Blackwell,2016, p.126.