The Argument of Psellos' ChronographiaThis book is a philosophical interpretation of Michael Psellos' Chronographia, an acknowledged masterpiece of Byzantine literature. Anthony Kaldellis argues that although the Chronographia contains a fascinating historical narrative; it is really a disguised philosophical work which, if read carefully, reveals Psellos' revolutionary views on politics and religion. Kaldellis exposes the rhetorical techniques with which Psellos veils his unorthodoxy, and demonstrates that the inner message of the text challenges the Church's supremacy over the intellectual and political life of Byzantium. Psellos consciously articulates a secular vision of Imperial politics, and seeks to liberate philosophy from the constraints of Christian theology. The analysis is lucid and should be accessible to anyone with a general knowledge of Byzantine civilization. It should interest all who study the history of ancient and medieval philosophy. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
1 Êthos and History | 23 |
2 The Delusions of Romanos III | 28 |
An awakening to human affairs | 31 |
4 Philosophy and Philology | 34 |
5 A Wicked Doctrine | 41 |
6 Imperial Askêsis | 51 |
7 The Secrets of the Virgin | 62 |
16 The Degeneracy of the Official Religion | 109 |
17 Patron of Blasphemers | 115 |
18 Psellos Enigmatic Confession of Faith | 117 |
19 Philosophy and Rhetoric | 127 |
20 The True Nature of Rhetoric | 132 |
21 A Rhetorical Performance | 141 |
22 The Redemption of Rhetoric | 145 |
23 Political Philosophy and the Rehabilitation of the Body | 154 |
8 An Impious Doctrine | 66 |
9 The Secular Imperium | 77 |
10 The Repudiation of Monasticism | 80 |
11 The Liberation of Philosophy from Christianity | 89 |
12 The Triumph of Nature Over Faith | 93 |
13 Virtual Divine Grace | 98 |
14 The Unspeakable Mysteries of Providence | 101 |
Pietism or Prudence? | 105 |
24 Psellos and Isaac Komnenos | 167 |
25 Philosophy and the Throne | 178 |
26 Who is the author of the Chronographia? | 185 |
Bibliography | 199 |
Index of Passages | 213 |
219 | |
STUDIEN UND TEXTE ZUR GEISTESGESCHICHTE DES MITTELALTERS | 225 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
According Alexios Anastasi ancient argument Basil Basil II beliefs body Book Bruchstücke einer Autobiographie byzantinischen Byzantium Christian Chrono Chronographia Church claims Constantine IX Monomachos contemporaries court criticism digression discussion divine doctrines eleventh century Emperor Empress encomia Encomium in Praise entirely Epinomis êthos faith favor graphia Greek Hellenic historian History honor human icon ideal Imperial intellectual Isaac Komnenos ISBN 90 John John Skylitzes Keroularios Leo the Deacon logos metaphysical Michael Attaleiates Michael IV Michael IV Paphlagon Michael Psellos military modern monasteries monastic monks moral narrative nature Neoplatonic Niccolò Machiavelli Nikephoros Niketas Choniates openly orator Orthodox passage Patriarch Phaedo philoso philosophical Phokas piety pious Plato political Psel reign religion religious reveal rhetoric Romanos Romanos III rule ruler scholars Skylitzes Socrates soul teachings Theophanes the Confessor things thinkers thought throne tion translation true truth virtue wisdom words Xiphilinos Zoe's