The revival of philosophy in Byzantium. Aristotelianism and Platonism in Gregory Palamas and Plethon Gemistos

  1. Lemma
  2. Η αναγέννηση της φιλοσοφίας στο Βυζάντιο. Αριστοτελισμός και Πλατωνισμός στον Γρηγόριο Παλαμά και Πλήθωνα Γεμιστό
  3. Greek, Modern (1453-)
  4. Katsiampoura, Gianna
  5. Orthodox theological tradition and practice
  6. 19-12-2017
  7. Αναγνώστου, Ιωάννης [Author]. The revival of philosophy in Byzantium. Aristotelianism and Platonism in Gregory Palamas and Plethon Gemistos
  8. The revival of philosophy in Byzantium. Aristotelianism and Platonism in Gregory Palamas and Plethon Gemistos
  9. Christian philosophy - Byzantine Fathers - Palamas, Gregory - Πλήθων Γεμιστός, Γεώργιος - Aristotelianism - Platonism
    1. <p>Anagnostou, Ioannis, <em>Η αναγέννηση της φιλοσοφίας στο Βυζάντιο. Αριστοτελισμός και πλατωνισμός στον Γρηγόριο Παλαμά και στον Πλήθωνα Γεμιστό</em> (<em>The revival of philosophy in Byzantium. Aristotelianism and Platonism in Gregory Palamas  and Plethon  Gemistos</em>), Hellenic Open University, Patra 2015</p>

    1. This MA thesis explores the revival, according to the writer, Ioannis Anagnostou, of philosophy during the last four centuries of Byzantium. It attempts to trace the circumstances under which the Byzantine civilization – seeking its Greek Christian identity – turns to the ancient classical patristic literature through the conflict, dispute and discord which mark and shape its course. In particular, it tries to find the extent to which the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle influences two of the most eminent thinkers in the last Byzantine intellectual production, i.e. Gregory Palamas and George Plethon Gemistos.

      Through those conflicts that arose in the 14th century between the Hesychasts and the West, and in the 15th century between the followers of Aristotle and Plato, and considering the contribution of Byzantium to the rebirth of humanistic studies in Italy, we will attempt to bring out the inherent features of the Byzantine identity – both the Greek and the Christian ones – whereby “philosophy serves the divine and the divine philosophizes”. Disputes, philosophical and theological debates about the essence and energy of the divine, as well as the ability of man to participate in the actions of the uncreated light comprise a turning point in the history of European thought. For Byzantium the prevalence of the Hesychasts represents the dominance of the hope that God communicates with man and his history – a history which serves the divine economy. Endangerment escapes human limits and time circumstance, and ignores the historical premises of the fall. It is the ability of man to defeat death. Besides, time is also at the service of the transcendental God of Christianity as a created being, and the rebirth of philosophy and humanism in the West and the East confirms that Byzantium has survived its fall