Special Issue
IAMBLICHUS OF CHALCIS
Panos Eliopoulos
Olympic Centre of Philosophy and Culture, Athens, Greece
ksatriya@tri.forthnet.gr
Language: English
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 210–219
Keywords: wisdom, ars vitae, individual differences, education, volition, soul, right reason
Abstract. Seneca expounds a theory of therapy and teaching with the ultimate goal of self knowledge and wisdom. Some of his techniques are based on Pythagorean principles or derive ideas from them, among them the focused and constant ascesis of self control. Iamblichus in De Vita Pythagorica exhibits great interest on the fact that man’s inherent abilities along with the aid of proper education suffice for his attainment of wisdom. For both thinkers, knowledge through practice is considered to be one of the major philosophical demands in the perspective of an “ars vitae”. The human being has to canalize himself into the modeling of a new way of living, an “art of living” which will contribute decisively to the fulfillment of his teleology, to his perpetual eudaimonia (bene vivere). The admittance of individual differences in people’s ability to reform themselves only signifies the more intense effort of the teacher towards a purification of their intellect and greater engagement of the individuals’ volition but not their inability for correction.
Charalampos Magoulas
Department of Sociology, National School of Public Health, Athens
magba05@yahoo.com
Language: English
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 220–228
Keywords: levels and kinds of virtues, piety, temperance, theurgy, love
Abstract. This paper aims at pointing out differences between the perception of virtues in Plato’s Protagoras and especially the Symposium and in Iamblichus. The argument is focused on the fact that, although both philosophers agree that virtues can be taught and they are therefore a social activity, in Plato there is a certain significance laid on the social role of virtues as well as on the cardinal importance of love as a sentiment that leads to temperance, in Iamblichus, what is more adequate for a philosopher to exercise is rather the hieratic values, while the temperance is the virtue that leads to the union with god. Based on that argument and in the fact that theurgy as a practice is more personal than social, we could possibly trace in representative philosophical thoughts of these eras the change of worldviews between classical and late antiquity, as, at any rate, the historical research shows.
José Molina
Centro de Estudios Clásicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, josemolina@correo.unam.mx
Language: English
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 229–238
Keywords: metaphysics, theurgy, soul, Late Platonism, Plotinus, mysticism
Abstract. Iamblichus of Chalcis postulated theurgy on metaphysical grounds as the only means of communion with the supreme principle of everything that exists. Iamblichus set this principle as a completely transcendent reality, unattainable by reason, and, at the same time, differs from Plotinus, who postulated absolute withdrawal from everything and conceived union with the One as an escape in solitude to the solitary. Iamblichus conceives matter as an instrument for the soul’s ascent to that principle and explicitly proposes a mysticism of solidarity with the cosmos and with other souls.
Eugene Afonasin
The centre for Ancient philosophy and the classical tradition,
Novosibirsk State University, Institute of philosophy and law, Russia, afonasin@gmail.com
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 239–245
Keywords: Platonism, descend of souls, eschatology, fate, providence
Abstract. The Letters by the Neoplatonic philosopher Iamblichus of Chalchis (c. 242–325 ce), preserved in a fragmentary form by John of Stobi in his Antologia and translated into Russian in the previous issue of the journal (ΣΧΟΛΗ 4. 1 (2010) 166–193), are now supplemented by two minor testimonia (by Olympiodorus and Damaskius) and a note on the descend of souls in Later Neoplatonism.
Eugene Afonasin
The centre for Ancient philosophy and the classical tradition,
Novosibirsk State University, Institute of philosophy and law, Russia, afonasin@gmail.com
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 246–255
Keywords: Athenian Neoplatonism, Intellectual centers, Libanius, Himerius, Sopatros
Abstract. Following earlier studies by Raubitschek 1964 and Cameron 1969 the paper reexamines literary and epigraphic evidence concerned an Athenian philosopher called Iamblichus, who apparently played an important role in the revival of interest to his famous namesake in early fifth century Athens. The paper is prepared thanks to generous support of the Onassis Foundation in Athens (winter 2008/9) and based on my talk at the conference “Iamblichus: His Sources and Influence” (Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens, March 2009).
Sergey Avanesov
Tomsk State University, Russia, iskiteam@yandex.ru
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 260–290
Keywords: Values in archaic society, Homer, Ancient literature, epic poems
Abstract. Axiology as a sphere of value orientation and preferences is a base of every culture. The analysis of Homer’s poems gives an opportunity to explicate the value base of archaic Mediterranean culture. Values such as honor, glory, devotion, self-sacrifice, friendship, mutual help, hospitality, justice-equality and justice-retribution are on the positive pole of this culture. Anger, insult, deception, greed, cowardice, audacity, and desecration of the enemy’s body are on the negative pole. Positive values are fixed in the sanctioned “standards” of social behavior.
Alexander Akhvlediany
Scientific Society «INCOL», Israel, Carmiel, alexanderakhvlediany@yandex.ru
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 291–297
Keywords: Paradox, formal logic, epistemology, non-formal logic, conflict resolution
Abstract. According to the legendary story, Protagoras made an agreement with one of his pupils Euathlus, stipulating that the pupil was to pay for his education in law only after he had won his first case. Euathlus completed his course, but did not practice as a lawyer for a long time. Protagoras decided to sue Euathlus for the amount owed him. Protagoras argued, “Either I win this suit, or you win it”. “If I win, you pay me according to the judgment of the court. If you win, you pay me according to our agreement. In either case I am bound to be paid”. However, Euathlus was a resourceful person and he replied: “Not so. If I win, then by the judgment of the court I need not pay you. If you win, then by our agreement I need not pay you. In either case I am bound not to have to pay you”. Whose argument was right? It turned out that, due to the formulation of the paradox, it can not be solved by classical methods of traditional formal logic, as well as by the formal zero order logic system. However, the article shows that the epistemological solution to this paradox exists, according to non-classical method of conflict resolution.
Dmitry A. Shcheglov
Saint Petersburg Branch of the Institute for the History of Science and Technology,
Russian Academy of Sciences, shcheglov@yandex.ru
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 298–324
Keywords: geography, climate, polemics, misinterpretation
Abstract. Posidonius’ F 223 EK has been long regarded a puzzle. In this text Strabo discusses a theory of Posidonius about the influence of the Sun on the climate. The article argues that Strabo misinterprets Posidonius’ words and ascribes him egregiously absurd ideas. Accordingly, modern commentators, following Strabo, misconstrue Posidonius’ theory in the same way. The article suggests a new interpretation of this theory, which makes it possible to explain Posidonius’ words and save him from false charges of absurd ideas.
Andrey Shetnikov
ΣΙΓΜΑ. The Centre of Educational Projects, Novosibirsk, Russia, schetnikov@ngs.ru
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 325–348
Keywords: Ancient science, astronomy, eclipses, measuring techniques
Abstract. The article is based on a course of lectures in Ancient astronomy delivered at the international summer school “Τεχνη. Theoretical Foundations of Arts, Sciences and Technology in the Greco-Roman World” (August 2010, Novosibirsk) organized by the Centre for Ancient philosophy and the classical tradition and sponsored by the “Open Society Institute”. Two attachments are devoted to al-Biruni’s and early modern measurements of distances to Sun and Moon.
Andrey Shetnikov
ΣΙΓΜΑ. The Centre of Educational Projects, Novosibirsk, Russia, schetnikov@ngs.ru
Introduction, Russian translation and notes
Language: Russian
Issue: ΣΧΟΛΗ 4.2 (2010) 349–415
Keywords: scientific manual, Greek science, astronomy, measuring techniques
Abstract. Translated into Russian for the first time, Cleomedes’ On the Circular Motions of the Celestial Bodies is a basic astronomy textbook in two volumes. His author criticizes the Epicureans and approves of the Stoics. The work is valued for preserving much of Posidonius' lost writings on astronomy. Cleomedes accurately discusses lunar eclipses, notes that the absolute size of many stars may exceed that of the Sun, argues that the sun appears farther away on the horizon than in the zenith, and therefore larger (since its angular size is constant). This book is the original source for the well-known story of how Eratosthenes measured the Earth's circumference.
