History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 308 - Dominic O'Meara on Michael Psellos
Sep 23, 2018
Dominic O'Meara, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, shares insights on the influential thinker Michael Psellos. They discuss Psellos's unique blend of political engagement and philosophical thought, stressing the need for philosophers to engage with power. O'Meara explores tensions between asceticism and knowledge, scrutinizing the conflict between religious beliefs and intellectual pursuits. Additionally, the conversation delves into the portrayal of rulers in Psellos's 'Chronographia', juxtaposing divine ideals with the harsh realities of leadership in the Byzantine Empire.
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Psellos' Broad Concept of Philosophy
- Michael Psellos saw philosophy as polymathia, the knowledge of many things across various sciences.
- His philosophy aims for comprehensive knowledge, an ambition hard to fulfill in his "unphilosophical" times.
Opposition to Ascetic Anti-Intellectualism
- Psellos opposed monastic asceticism which rejected pagan knowledge in favor of spiritual emotion.
- He championed consulting a broad spectrum of knowledge rather than relying on ascetic renunciation of reason.
Psellos’ Mother and Plotinus
- Psellos praised his mother’s religious asceticism using Plotinian philosophy.
- This illustrated his attempt to reconcile extreme spirituality with philosophical reasoning.