Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics
This article reveals the continuity of Neoplatonic ideas in Greek-Byzantine patristics in the process of elaboration of the triadic dogma by the Church Fathers. Common and distinctive principles of Neoplatonism and Eastern Christianity are deduced from the point of view of the shaping of Christian e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/151 |
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| author | Olga Vasilievna Chistyakova Denis Igorevich Chistyakov |
| author_facet | Olga Vasilievna Chistyakova Denis Igorevich Chistyakov |
| author_sort | Olga Vasilievna Chistyakova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article reveals the continuity of Neoplatonic ideas in Greek-Byzantine patristics in the process of elaboration of the triadic dogma by the Church Fathers. Common and distinctive principles of Neoplatonism and Eastern Christianity are deduced from the point of view of the shaping of Christian ethics and the processing of Neoplatonic concepts in patristic texts. In more specific terms, Plotinus’ concept of the triad of the One–the Intellect–the Soul is considered, with special attention paid to analysis of the philosopher’s ideas of the One as Deity and the Origin of the world. It describes the process of emanation of the Neoplatonic trinity hypostasis and its connection with the material world through the World Soul. In comparison with Neoplatonism, the authors of the article present the molding of the dogma of the Holy Trinity in classical Greek-Byzantine patristics and highlight the new, theological-ethical vision of Plotinus’ triad as a form of the interconnection of the three Persons of the Trinity, expressing the absoluteness of interpersonal relations. In terms of philosophical ethics, the authors state that the Church Fathers’ understanding of the relationship among the three hypostases of the Holy Trinity serves as a model of perfect moral relationships demonstrating the absolute norms of morality for a human being. Neoplatonism was deprived of such a context in its interpretation of Plotinus’ triad. The creative and critical perception of Plotinus’ conceptual positions in the works of St. Athanasius is presented. Conclusions are made about the creative, sometimes critical, perception of the ideas of Neoplatonism in the formation of a new type of Christian ethics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f1baec8db3a40b7bc7ab30a84245d31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f1baec8db3a40b7bc7ab30a84245d312023-11-16T22:58:50ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-01-0114215110.3390/rel14020151Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of EthicsOlga Vasilievna Chistyakova0Denis Igorevich Chistyakov1Department of History of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, RussiaHotel Business and Tourism Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, RussiaThis article reveals the continuity of Neoplatonic ideas in Greek-Byzantine patristics in the process of elaboration of the triadic dogma by the Church Fathers. Common and distinctive principles of Neoplatonism and Eastern Christianity are deduced from the point of view of the shaping of Christian ethics and the processing of Neoplatonic concepts in patristic texts. In more specific terms, Plotinus’ concept of the triad of the One–the Intellect–the Soul is considered, with special attention paid to analysis of the philosopher’s ideas of the One as Deity and the Origin of the world. It describes the process of emanation of the Neoplatonic trinity hypostasis and its connection with the material world through the World Soul. In comparison with Neoplatonism, the authors of the article present the molding of the dogma of the Holy Trinity in classical Greek-Byzantine patristics and highlight the new, theological-ethical vision of Plotinus’ triad as a form of the interconnection of the three Persons of the Trinity, expressing the absoluteness of interpersonal relations. In terms of philosophical ethics, the authors state that the Church Fathers’ understanding of the relationship among the three hypostases of the Holy Trinity serves as a model of perfect moral relationships demonstrating the absolute norms of morality for a human being. Neoplatonism was deprived of such a context in its interpretation of Plotinus’ triad. The creative and critical perception of Plotinus’ conceptual positions in the works of St. Athanasius is presented. Conclusions are made about the creative, sometimes critical, perception of the ideas of Neoplatonism in the formation of a new type of Christian ethics.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/151Christian ethicsNeoplatonismGreek-Byzantine patristicsPlotinus’ triadthe Onethe Holy Trinity |
| spellingShingle | Olga Vasilievna Chistyakova Denis Igorevich Chistyakov Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics Religions Christian ethics Neoplatonism Greek-Byzantine patristics Plotinus’ triad the One the Holy Trinity |
| title | Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics |
| title_full | Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics |
| title_fullStr | Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics |
| title_short | Reenvisioning Plotinus’ Doctrine of the Triad in Byzantine Christianity as a New Type of Ethics |
| title_sort | reenvisioning plotinus doctrine of the triad in byzantine christianity as a new type of ethics |
| topic | Christian ethics Neoplatonism Greek-Byzantine patristics Plotinus’ triad the One the Holy Trinity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/151 |
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