§ 2. THE PRECURSORS OF NEO-PLATONISM.

(From the end of the first century B.C. to the third century A.D.)

80. Two Groups of Precursory Systems. -- The philosophical currents which developed, mainly at Alexandria, before the appearance of Neo-Platonism are two in number: (1) A current of Grecian philosophy, having its origin in a revival of Pythagorean ideas, and comprising Neo-Pythagorism and Pythagorean Platonism; (2) a current of Graeco-Judaic philosophy. There was besides, in the later years of the second century, and especially in the third century, a current of Christian Philosophy whose tendencies naturally connect it with the Patristic Philosophy (96).