Introduction to Christian Platonism

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

- to provide students with basic knowledge on the tradition of Christian Platonism from the 3rd to the 15th century AD

- to show students the way in which religious and philosophical dimensions were integrated within ancient and medieval Christianity

- to indicate to students what may be the relevance of the tradition of Christian Platonism to modern epistemological and moral problems  

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

1. Ancient Christianity as religion and philosophy. 

 

2. God as the infinite First Principle

 

3. Creation as the self-manifestation of God 

 

4. Gods and angels. 

 

5. God as the Trinity. 

 

6. Creation as good, evil as nothing. 

 

 7. The Platonic Forms and the universe as an image of God.  

 

 8. The fall and return of creation to God. 

 

 9. The levels of meaning in the Bible. 

 

 10. Faith, reason and experience. 

 

 11. The God-Man  

 

 12. Theosis (deification). 

 

 13. The body in Christian Platonism.  

 

 14. God as relation and community.   

 

 15. Final exam. 

Reading list

1. The Prologue to Gospel of John (Jn 1:1-14). 

2. Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of John (selection)

3. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John (selection). 

4. Augustine of Hippo, Tractate on the Gospel of John (selection).

5. Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions (selection). 

6. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, Divine Names; Mystical Theology (selection).

7. John Scotus Eriugena, Homily on the Prologue to John. 

8. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of John (selection). 

9. Bonaventure of Bagnoreggio, The Way of Mind to God (selection). 

10. Nicolaus of Cusa, On learned ignorance; On Not-Other (selection).