Open AccessThe mixed life of Plato’s Philebus in Psellos’ Chronographia (6a.8)
Author(s) -
Frederick Lauritzen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
zbornik radova vizantološkog instituta/zbornik radova vizantološkog instituta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0917
pISSN - 0584-9888
DOI - 10.2298/zrvi1350399l
Subject(s) - contemplation , intellect , reading (process) , politics , philosophy , order (exchange) , natural (archaeology) , literature , epistemology , law , history , art , political science , archaeology , linguistics , finance , economics
Michael Psellos (1018-1081) used neoplatonic ethics in Chronographia 6a8 in order to discredit Leo Paraspondylos. He was accused of being too strict and distant from the real world of politics. By claiming that the intellect also needs a natural environment, Psellos endorses the neoplatonic reading of Plato’s Philebus and at the same time the contemplation of nature of Maximus the Confessor. In other words he claims the Leo was neither a philosopher nor an accurate theologian and therefore could not be in charge of political affairs