Biography
Jacob Dvorak is a PhD Candidate specializing in the reading practices of the early Empire. He studied Classics and Philosophy as Florida State University, graduating summa cum laude in 2020. At FSU, he researched Plato's daimonology and use of myth in connection with Platonic psychology. At the University of Toronto, he began focusing on the history of Platonism and early Christian philosophy. His dissertation analyzes the development of doctrinal reading in Platonist handbooks, Plutarch, Galen, and the early Christian philosopher Eusebius. He is especially interested in the ways readers treat polyphonic texts as univocal expressions of doctrine, and the ways this process enables authors to reshape the relationships of authors in the Classical canon.
As an instructor, Jacob focuses on developing sustained and multilayered engagement with Classical texts. He believes that the best class is one in which students feel comfortable asking questions and extending study outside the classroom. He is available to chat for anyone who wants to discuss their studies in Classics (or on the borders of Classics).
Research Interests: Plato and Middle Platonism, Early Christian philosophy, early Imperial reading practices.