The Argument of Psellos' Chronographia

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BRILL, Oct 11, 2021 - Philosophy - 237 pages
This 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.

From inside the book

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
General Index
219
STUDIEN UND TEXTE ZUR GEISTESGESCHICHTE DES MITTELALTERS
225
Copyright

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