The Other Path in Science, Theology and Spirituality: Pondering a Fourteenth Century Byzantine Model

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleThe Other Path in Science, Theology and Spirituality: Pondering a Fourteenth Century Byzantine Model
3. Language term English
4. lemma author Tampakis, Kostas
5. lemma category Modes of interaction
6. Publication date 2011
7. lemma work Costache, Doru [Author]. The Other Path in Science, Theology and Spirituality: Pondering a Fourteenth Century Byzantine Model
8. lemma manifestations Transdisciplinary Studies
9. Keywords St. Gregory Palamas - Barlaam - Nikephoros Gregoras - Theodoros Metochites - spirituality
10. Url Click Here
11. Lemma body

    1. This paper aims to present the 14th century Byzantine solution to the current problem of dissociation between science, theology and spirituality, as an alternative to the prevailing Western paradigm. The discussion unfolds in four parts. The first part addresses the broader context, reviewing the significance of medieval culture and the causes that led to the split between science, theology, and spirituality. The second explores the major representatives of Byzantine scholarship in the fourteenth century, pointing out the weaknesses and strengths of their cultural milieu. The third explores the aptitude displayed by the Byzantine frameworkto creatively incorporate scientific expertise and theological insight, while the fourth and final part, dealing with the synthesis of science, theology, and spirituality achieved by St. Gregory Palamas. In the first part, the author describes the two opposing views regarding Middle Ages and science, which he calls ‘warfare theory’ and ‘alliance theory’. The first contends that nothing of interest happened in the rational understanding of the world during the Middle Ages, while the second proposes that the root of modern science should be found exactly at that time. The author also notes how many of the dipoles through which the current dialogue between science and religion is being conducted have their origin deep within Western thought, and especially the scholastic division between the natural and the supernatural. The first part concludes by discussing how the Byzantine migration to Italy during the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries shaped the philosophical discourse there, but also, howthese migrants created a false impression in the West, that Byzantium was profoundly and uniquely attached to the Platonic tradition. The second part discusses the emergence of a Byzantine science. Heavily influenced by recently published works of Basil Tatakis (2007), the author sees the Byzantines not only excelling in theology and philosophy, but also manifesting a renewed and increasing interest both in the “official” sciences and in the “apocryphal” sciences. The author also discusses the Byzantine use of technology and of the value they saw in it and concludes that the Western perception of Byzantine scientific stagnation is erroneous and misguided. In the third part, the paper discusses how Byzantine scholars, while proficient in science, also remained faithful to the ecclesiastical tradition. An exemplar of this trend is taken to be Theodore Metochites, who is taken to be the heir to the apophatic early Byzantine theologians. The lesson drawn is that science and theology, technology and the spiritual life are not mutually exclusive, but that they contribute together to the betterment of human life and the advancement of civilization. Such an attitude is the direct continuation of the legacy of St. Maximus. Finally, in the fourth part, the author briefly reiterates his views on St. Gregory Palamas’ synthesis of theology and science presented on his 2008 Queen of the sciences article. He sees Palamas’ thought as a courageous incorporation of scientific elements in a scripturally-based worldview, resulting in a contextualized Christian vision of reality. He also identified science as dealing with the natural laws, whereas theology has the spiritual matters as its province. Both are relevant, and both lead to spirituality. The paper ends by noting the relevance of Orthodox Byzantine thought for contemporary discussions on science and theology, especially when discovered again without the distortion imposed by Western viewpoints.