探求とロゴス (完)

Abstract

Justin Martyr, a second-century Apologist, said in his Apology II 10 that Socrates exhorted men to become acquainted with the God who was to them unknown, by means of the investigation of reason (oια λογου ζητησεως) . What is the exact meaning of the phrase οια λóρου ζητήσεως ? Does it mean the scientific investigation of reason (die wissenschaftliche Untersuchung des Logos) par excellence? We try to explain this phrase in the context of Justin's fundamental attitude which judges any philosophy or religion by its relation to the life and death problem of man. Justin's primary concern lies in the religious quest (ζήτησις) which leads to conversion. Because of such zetetic character Socrates is highly estimated by Justin. Justin's doctrine of Logos must be interpreted in this context. His thought of Logos has a more dynamic structure than that of Middle Platonism or Stoicism. Our conclusion is that λóѴoυζήτησις is the religious quest (including the philosophical) in which the whole βιoς is involved.