Parmenides in apophatic philosophy

Parmenides in Apophatic Philosophy

Michael M Nikoletseas

PARMENIDES IN APOPHATIC PHILOSOPHY

Copyright copy2014 by Michael M NikoletseasISBN-13 978-1497532403ISBN-10 149753240XPublished in USAOrder from httpswwwcreatespacecom4743699

No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying and microfilm without permission in writing from the author

2


In the universal silence of nature and in the calm of the senses the immortal spiritrsquos hidden faculty of knowledge speaks an ineffable language and gives [us] undeveloped concepts which are indeed felt but do not let themselves be described Immanuel Kant Universal natural history and theory of the heavens

3


4


CONTENTS

PREFACE p 7

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION p 14

CHAPTER 2 DE MYSTICA THEOLOGIA p 21Laconic summary p 21Greek Text with comments p 23

CHAPTER 3 DE MYSTICA THEOLOGIA AS A LITERARY WORK p 50

CHAPTER 4 THE INEFFABLE p 55Historical p 55The ineffable as darkness p 70The ineffable in Dionysius p 75The ineffable in Parmenides p 89

CHAPTER 5 CONCORDANCE BETWEEN PARMENIDES PERI PHYSEOS AND DE MYSTICA THEOLOGIA p 93

CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE p 117

BIBLIOGRAPHY p 127

ABBREVIATIONS p 149

5


6


PREFACE

It is not customary to view Parmenides peri physeos as an apophasis1 and in a strict sense it is not Parmenides thesis constitutes a cataphasis a statement be it enigmatic of what-is τό ἐὸν However based on the fragments that have survived the second part of the poem although syntactically a cataphasis is in essence an apophasis a series of statements of what τό ἐὸν is not a description of what is not τό μὴ ἐὸν The goddess warns Parmenides that the rest of her speech is not truth but opinion and deceitful words

Ἐν τῷ σοι παύω πιστὸν λόγον ἠδὲ νόημαἀμφὶς ἀληθείης δόξας δ ἀπὸ τοῦδε βροτείαςμάνθανε κόσμον ἐμῶν ἐπέων ἀπατηλὸν ἀκούων Parmenides Fragment 850-52

In my previous work on Parmenides (Nikoletseas M M 2013a) I proposed a novel view of τό ἐὸν arguing that what Parmenides meant by τό ἐὸν was a formal system a calculus that could describe nature effectively In other words τό ἐὸν had little to do with the subsequent vestment of the concept ----------1In Metaphysics Aristotle distinguishes between ἀπόφασιν and στέρησιν ἐπεὶ δὲ μιᾶς τἀντικείμενα θεωρῆσαι τῷ δὲ ἑνὶ ἀντίκειται πλῆθοςmdashἀπόφασιν δὲ καὶ στέρησιν μιᾶς ἐστὶ θεωρῆσαι []Aristot Met 41004aSee also commentary in Alexandri in Metaphysica in Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca Vol 1 Berolini 1891 p 327 Alexandri in Metaphysicorum Γ6 [Arist p 1011b15]Two works both lost by Chrysippus on ἀπόφασις and στέρησιςΠερὶ τῶν κατὰ στέρησιν λεγομένων πρὸς Θέαρον α´Περὶ ἀποφατικῶν πρὸς Ἀρισταγόραν γ´

7


with Platonic garments of ideas and the later degeneration of a natural science concept into theological Beings (capitalized B)

Indeed Parmenides thought is so revolutionary I may venture to say visionary that ultimately it does not fit into a categorical scheme of cataphasisapophasis it is an insight into physics that like all genuine insights hit on the wall of the ineffable

Apophatic theology is synonymous with the workof Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (henceforth called Dionysius) The origin of my interest in Pseudo Dionysius Areopagite I trace back to my reading of Eriugena and Cusanus both of which exercise a fascination on me for their intellect and their insights in epistemological issues I read these two theologians in the course of writing on nothingness a book that is still being written I found myself immersed in the theme of nothingness by the time my book on Parmenides took shape Eriugena and Cusanus trapped my mind as they were instrumental in adumbrating in me thoughts of which I was vaguely aware It is generally acknowledged that Dionysius influenced the thought of these two theologians as he influenced generations of scholars including Thomas Aquinas

Questions relating to consciousness universally conceived have occupied my thinking in the long years of working in the neurosciences From a more limited and even personal scope these questions I have ultimately cast in phyletic and lately philosophical terms My work in Literature and Philosophy so far has been driven by a desire to

8


grasp some meaning in these questions

In my exploration of these issues I have wandered in diverse disciplines such as the Classics Anthropology Psychoanalysis the neurosciences and lately Physics Concepts from these disciplines permeate all of my work including my poetry

The principal thesis of this book is that Dionysius De Mystica Theologia is an artless negation of the thesis in Parmenides poem peri physeos Support for my proposition that Dionysius wrote De Mystica as an antithesis (literally) to Parmenides peri physeos is presented in the subsequent sections of this book In Chapter II of De Mystica Theologia we read

τὰς ἀφαιρέσεις ἐναντίως ταῖς θέσεσιν ὑμνῆσαι

We may take this line as Dionysius statement of goal in writing De Mystica

My original observation that there are several instances of concordance between the De Mystica Theologia and Parmenides peri physeos (see Chapter 5) was later reinforced by my coming across the findings of other researchers For example Ivaacutenka E (1940 pp 386-399) has provided convincing evidence that in Divine Names Dionysius used material from Platos Parmenides Even the philosophical conceptual structure of Divine Names has been based on Neo-Platonist Syrianus commentaries on Platos Parmenides (E Corsini 1962 see Gersh S E 1978 p 155) There has not been a systematic juxtaposition of the Parmenidean peri physeos and

9


Dionysius De Mystica Theologia neither has there been a tabulation of the concordances of the two texts

It may be unwise to subject a text to an ad hoc analysis as the danger of reading meanings and theses where they do not exist is magnified However all analyses of ancient texts are to a great degree ad hoc analyses since there is a great chasm between the ancient ad modern weltanschauung Nevertheless we must not underestimate the benefits even in the undesirable instance of introducing occasional distortions

My interest in Pseudo-Dionysius does not fall into such categories as apophatism philosophical radical difference or religious private experience (Davies O and Turner D 2002) My interest is the interest of a poet who is not driven by words1 lsquophilology in its literal meaning although in this book inevitably I have also looked into De Mystica Theologia from a philological perspective portions of my books on Homer and Parmenides are philological In my work I have struggled to express non-lectic mental schemata into words This also relates to my research and teaching in the natural and mathematical sciences where discovery and description starts (in fact for many workers it very frequently does not) with pictorial or other non-verbal schemata and processes which lead to a struggle for ways of grasping these schemata via experimentation and subsequent conceptualization and only lastly verbal depiction I have stated elsewhere that for me poetry the poetry as per Mathew Arnold (for there are poetic fashions that range from the idiotic to the sublime) is creation

10


true discovery (see my analysis of Homers The Iliad Nikoletseas M M 2012 2013b)

I embarked on the present project with the preoccupation that in Dionysius thought in De Mystica Theologia relates to Parmenides of Elea and that there is an element of epistemology as it is cultivated in the natural sciences The same preoccupation permeates my book on Parmenides (2013a) and later Deus Absconditus (2014) Without intending to depreciate the significance that De Mystica Theologia has had and still has for theology I believe that the real challenge for the secular philosopher is to trace a) new conceptions of value to philosophy and b) the roots of these novel conceptions in the writings of previous scholars

The present thesis that claims a Parmenidean influence on theological thought that of Pseudo-Dionysius in particular is useful even in the event that the concordances were few and mostly Platonic Given that Parmenides poem has survived only in fragments and has suffered alterations in its many transcriptions (Passa E 2009) detecting a concordance with the Dionysian text may aid in----------1I do not view myself as a λογοτέχνης (artisan of words logos) the official term for a writer working in the domain of what in the western world is universally known as lsquoLiteraturersquo For a great portion of Modern Greek Literature the term Λογοτεχνία (the art of logos ie speech words here logos is not used in the sense the Presocratics used it) is perfectly appropriate as it exhausts itself in the shallow waters of verbalism and exuberant language aiming at extreme emotions eg Niko Kazantzakis or the creation of a long-drawn complex at times vacuous surrealism as that of Elytis

11


matters of exegesis but also in correcting disputed parts of the poem and perhaps offer hints as to the sequence of the extant fragments As a student of Proclus Dionysius was well versed in Greek philosophy especially Platonism with the Neo-Platonist hue The crucial question here is of curse whether he knew of Parmenides work in its original text or he drew on Platos dialogue Parmenides Indeed the Platonic Academy possessed a copy of the poem of Parmenides (Passa E 2009) A complete copy of Parmenides poem was in the hands of Simplicius who copied fifty-three lines in his book the lines he selected were about the One Being Diels (Lehrgedicht 26) notes that in addition to Simplicius copy which was probably in the Academy there were other copies those of Proclus Aristotle and Theophrastus It is therefore quite probable that Dionysius went to the source of the Platonic theory regarding being to Parmenides peri physeos as the Platonic dialogue Parmenides does not deal with Parmenides thought instead it imposes interpretations and distortions in accordance with Platos views

Another source of my motivation to write on Dionysius is the emergence of some intriguing ideas while working on Homer and later Parmenides and Deus absconditus in particular the issue relating to the ineffable in poetry as well as in philosophy W K C Guthrie (1962 p 3) wrote on the theme of ineffable in Parmenides

Parmenides is hampered at every turn [] One ----------1Guthrie W K C 1962 p 3

12


can feel the struggle to convey philosophical concepts for which the expression does not yet exist and some lines are scarcely amenable to translations at all

De Mystica Theologia is a treatise on the ineffable (the verbose exuberant style notwithstanding) in theology it is a philosophical work rather than theological Here Dionysius talks of the αἰτία as in Aristotles Metaphysics (Met 1983a) which he identifies with the divine he does not talk about God as English translations erroneously render the text In this book I often use the term lsquodivinersquo instead of αἰτία Latin causa

In the present book I have looked into the original texts in Greek meticulously and have consulted the Latin and to a lesser extent French translations All references to Parmenides point to peri physeos of Parmenides of Elea and unless clearly indicated not to Platos dialog The Parmenides which I argue has little to do with Parmenides thesis

June 2014

13


CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

Dionysius Areopagite is a pseudonym of a theologianphilosopher probably Syrian who wrote in late 5th or early 6th century He assumed the name of the Christian Areopagite and martyr Dionysius who lived in the first century AD in Athens For this reason he is referred to as Pseudo-Dionysius In the present book I often refer to him as Dionysius

Corpus Dionysiacum extant writingsDivine Names (Περὶ θείων ὀνομάτων De Divinis

Nominibus)Mystical Theology (Περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας De

Mystica Theologia)Celestial Hierarchy (Περὶ τῆς οὐρανίου ἱεραρχίας

De Coelesti Hierarchia)Ecclesiastical Hierarchy (Περὶ τῆς ἐκκλησιαστικῆς

ἱεραρχίας Ecclesiastica Hierarchia) Epistles (Επιστολαί Epistοlae)

The following four works by Dionysius are non extant Θεολογικαί ὑποτυπώσεις1

Περί ἀγγελικών ἰδιοτήτων καὶ τάξεων Περί ψυχής Περί δικαίου καὶ θείου δικαστηρίου

Regarding the arguments of authenticity of these works as well as the transmission of the text the reader may consult Rorem P Lamoreaux J C 1998----------1Proclus wrote an astronomical work Ὑποτύπωσις ἀστρονομικῶν ὑποθέσεων Hypotypocircsis For the influence and transmission of this text see DAncona C BRILL 2007 p 59

14


Dionysius was probably a student of Damascius (480mdashca 550 AD) the scholarch at the Platonic Academy in Athens or of Proclus In the following pages I present a summary of the history of the Platonic Academy from its creation to its final close down by emperor Justinian in 529 AD

15


Chronological list of Platos diadochi

THE OLD ACADEMY (347-274 BC)Birth Place Years as

Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων

(Πωτώνης)429ndash347

BC

AthensἈθηναῖος

SpeusippusΣπεύσιππος

c 408 ndash 3398 BCἈθηναῖος


3487ndash3398 BC

Xenocratesc 3965 ndash 3143 BC

Chalcedon on the

HellespontΧαλκηδόνιος

3398-314 BC

PolemonΠολέμων-270269

BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC

Based on Dillon J 2003

16


THE SECOND OR MIDDLE ACADEMY c 269-mid 1st century BC

Birth Place Years as Scholarch

Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis

Πιτάνης τῆς Αἰολίδος

-2410 BC

THE NEW OR THIRD ACADEMYBirth Place Years as

Scholarch

CarneadesΚαρνεάδης214ndash1298

BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC

ClitomachusΚλειτόμαχος(Ἀσδρούβας)

1876ndash11009 BC

CarthaginianΚαρχηδόνιος

c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17


THE NEOPLATONISTSBirth Place Years as

Scholarch

PlotinusΠλωτῖνοςca 2045 ndash 270 AD

Lycopolis Egypt

Porphyry of TyreΠορφύριοςMalcus ca 234 ndash ca 305 AD

TyreΤύροςPhoenicia

Iamblichus of Apamea Ἰάμβλιχοςca 250-ca 330 AD

ChalcisSyria

PlutarchΠλούταρχοςca 350-432430 AD


Reestablishes Platonic Academy in Athens-431432 AD

SyrianusΣυριανός-c 437successor to Plutarch

Alexandria 4312-437 AD

ProclusΠρόκλος ὁ Διάδοχος4102-485 ADsuccessor to Syrianus

Constantinople 437-485 AD

Marinus Samaria 485 AD -

after a short term of Domninus

18


THE NEOPLATONISTSContinued from previous page

Isidore Alexandria 485-515 AD

Damasciusca 460ndash540 AD Student

of Isidore

Syrian 515-529 ADAcademy

closed down by Justinian I

Simplicius of Cilicia (490500-560 AD) was a student of Damascius Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagite (probably a student of Damascius) wrote between 485 and 518ndash28 AD

Despite its title De Mystica Theologia (Περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας) does not qualify as a work on mysticism Mysticism comes from the Greek verb μύω to close be shut (of the eyes of the lips)

οὐ γάρ πω μύσαν ὄσσε ὑπὸ βλεφάροισιν ἐμοῖσινIL 24637

μύστης is he who shuts out the bodily needs and by doing so he becomes receptive of the divine μύησις points to μυστήριον (from μυέω to initiate into the mysteries teach instruct)

An interesting definition of mysticism coming from William James is particularly relevant to the views of the present writer regarding mysticism Personal religion was for James more fundamental than theology or ecclesiasticism (James W 2008 p 30)

In mystic states we both become one with the Absolute and we become aware of our oneness This is the everlasting and triumphant mystical tradition hardly altered by differences of clime or

19


CHAPTER 5 CONCORDANCE BETWEEN PARMENIDES PERI PHYSEOS AND DE MYSTICA THEOLOGIA

In this section I trace instances of concordance involving words images figures of speech and ultimately ideas between Parmenides Peri Physeos and Dionysius De Mystica Theologia The meaning I assign to the words in the Dionysian text is primarily based on my translation which takes into account Eriugenas (Joannes Ierugena) Latin translation (Migne 1857) Reference to John Parkers English translation of 1897 is occasionally made The criteria for choosing the items for the present comparison were dictated mainly by their philosophical significance in either of the two thinkers Lastly in this effort to find literary and philosophical concordances I have not commented exhaustively on the two texts the goal has been to provide supportive evidence for the proposition that Parmenides influenced Dionysius

Several instances of concordance can be recognized as such if we keep in mind that Dionysius thesis was based upon the negation of that of Parmenides An indication of this is to be found in Χρὴ δέ ὡς οἶμαι τὰς ἀφαιρέσεις ἐναντίως ταῖς θέσεσιν ὑμνῆσαιmiddot De Mystica Theologia Chapter II

In attempting to find concordances or parallels between Dionysius and Parmenides it becomes evident at the outset that Dionysius turned the Parmenidean and Platonic world of being inside out arguing that a focus on non-being is the crucial issue Of equal importance is the method he adopts a method of negations and abandonment of

93


biological and cognitive capacities away from reason the latter having been the hallmark of western civilization since the Presocratics In this regard the Dionysian philosophy finds an ally in Schopenhauer and psychoanalysis both of which drew from Hindu sources

The Parmenidean poem opens with an image of the philosopher been carried to another place

Ἵπποι ταί με φέρουσιν ὅσον τ ἐπὶ θυμὸς ἱκάνοιπέμπον ἐπεί μ ἐς ὁδὸν βῆσαν πολύφημον ἄγουσαιδαίμονος ἣ κατὰ πάντ ἄστη φέρει εἰδότα φῶτα Parmenides Fragment 11-4

The verb used to indicate the move is φέρουσιν The image is been complemented by the verb ἄγουσαι which means to lead to direct to In Dionysius De Mystica Theologia the verb ἰθύνω1 (ἴθυνον) conveys the same image one of being directed to another place

Parmenides uses the verb ἰθύνω in Fragment 6ἀμηχανίη γὰρ ἐν αὐτῶνστήθεσιν ἰθύνει πλακτὸν νόον οἱ δὲ φοροῦνται Fragment 65-6 ----------1ἰθύνω In Homer guide in a straight line ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρμ᾽ ἰθύνομεν IL11528The choice of the verb ἰθύνω is appropriate as it carries undertones of setting correct of divine guidance eg ldquoΖεὺς δ᾽ ἔμπης πάντ᾽ ἰθύνειrdquo IL17632 It is probably not coincidental that two lines later Home uses the verb ἄγω lead carry fetch bringἀλλ᾽ ἄγετ᾽ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην IL17634

94


Parmenides use of ἰθύνω and φοροῦντα in the same line amply illustrates the meaning of ἰθύνω proposed here

In Parmenides the image of being carried is qualified by ἐς ὁδὸν βῆσαν πολύφημον (Fragment 12) while in Dionysius ὑπεράγνωστον takes the place of πολύφημον adjusted to suit the apophatic character of De Mystica Theologia The place of destination in Parmenides is εἰς φάος χάσμ ἀχανὲς (Fragments 110 118) in Dionysius ἀκροτάτην κορυφήν (Chapter I) In both instances the intention is to create an image of an outworldly domain

The choice of the verb ἱκάνω1 by Parmenides is an additional indication of the ineffable In its meaning there is a notion of attain of fulfillment of reaching a desired target or goal The verb relates to the journey of intellect whose destination is understanding of what is difficult to conceive to speak of ie the ineffable This is evident in Homer ----------1ὅσον τ ἐπὶ θυμὸς ἱκάνοι Parmenides Fragment 1We note ἱκάνω used in the context of reaching out to grasp something beyond the ἐπέκεινα of Dionysius the ἐκτὸς of Parmenides (Fragment 127) and Pindars ἄβατον

εἰ δ᾽ ἀριστεύει μὲν ὕδωρ κτεάνων δὲ χρυσὸς αἰδοιέστατοςνῦν δὲ πρὸς ἐσχατιὰν Θήρων ἀρεταῖσιν ἱκάνων ἅπτεταιοἴκοθεν Ἡρακλέος σταλᾶν τὸ πόρσω δ᾽ ἔστι σοφοῖς ἄβατονκἀσόφοις οὔ νιν διώξω κεινὸς εἴηνPind O 342-45 see also Pind O 336-41A parallelism between Parmenides and Pindar has been explored eg by H Fraumlnkel H 1955 158ff (see also Taraacuten L 2001 pp 179-180)

95


and later in Parmenides who as known imitated1 Homer

Reference to light in Parmenides eg εἰδότα φῶτα occurs as ὑπερφαῆ (followed be other synonyms and antonyms) in Dionysius

The impossibility of knowing unless a formal language a calculus is used is a Parmenidean assertion which found itself elaborated and distorted in Plato the Neo-Platonists Christian theology and modern philosophy (Nikoletseas M M 2013a) In the context elaborated here De Mystica Theologia is an epistemological rather than a theological treatise Like Parmenides Dionysius claims that knowledge (for Dionysius this is tantamount to the divine) comes from shedding off sense-acquired knowledge abandoning cognitive faculty and regressing to a state the description of which is ineffable The detailed mode through-------------1An example is given below ἔνθα κ ἄϋπνος ἀνὴρ δοιοὺς ἐξήρατο μισθούςτὸν μὲν βουκολέων τὸν δ ἄργυφα μῆλα νομεύωνἐγγὺς γὰρ νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματός εἰσι κέλευθοι Homer OD1084-1086)Ἔνθα πύλαι Νυκτός τε καὶ Ἤματός εἰσι κελεύθων Parmenides Fragment 111

96


which knowledge is gained remains enigmatic1 for both thinkers at least in the fact that no formal system or paradigm is proposed In Dionysius γνόφον τῆς ἀγνωσίας is not to be taken in deprecatory sense but as a desirable state of mind it is impotence of intellect that will lead to knowledge Parmenidesrsquo thesis of knowledge does not only bypass the senses but also sheds off concepts deriving from the senses This is in accord with Dionysius

Καὶ τότε καὶ αὐτῶν ἀπολύεται τῶν ὁρωμένων καὶ τῶν ὁρώντων καὶ εἰς τὸν γνόφον τῆς ἀγνωσίας εἰσδύνει τὸν ὄντως μυστικόν καθrsquo ὃν ἀπομύει πάσας τὰς γνωστικὰς ἀντιλήψειςDe Mystica Theologia Chapter I There is of course little surprise that a Neo-Platonist asserts that knowledge cannot be gained through the senses What is intriguing here is that Dionysius urges us to free ourselves (literally ἀπολύω let loose unbind) of our mental concepts (γνωστικὰς ἀντιλήψεις) and attain a state of inability to know (this I propose is the true meaning of ἀγνωσίας) A thesis such as this is not Platonic nor is it -------------2Simplicius ldquoἐπειδὴ δὲ καὶ Ἀριστοτέλους ἐλέγχοντος ἀκουσόμεθα τὰς τῶν προτέρων φιλοσόφων δόξας καὶ πρὸ τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους ὁ Πλάτων τοῦτο φαίνεται ποιῶν καὶ πρὸ ἀμφοῖν ὅ τε Π [Παρμενίδης] καὶ Ξενοφάνης ἰστέον ὅτι τῶν ἐπιπολαιότερον ἀκροωμένων οὗτοι κηδόμενοι τὸ φαινόμενον ἄτοπον ἐν τοῖς λόγοις αὐτῶν διελέγχουσιν αἰνιγματωδῶς εἰωθότων τῶν παλαιῶν τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἀποφαίνεσθαι γνώμαςrdquo SIMPL Phys 36 25 von Hermann Diels H von 1903 p 111

97


Parmenidean In my recent book on Parmenides (Nikoletseas M M 2013a) I proposed that the Parmenidean τό ἐὸν and τό μὴ ἐὸν do not refer to being and non-being but to a formal system a new modus cogitandi apparently rational that can give atrue picture of physis The Dionysian treatise negates rational means

καὶ τὰς νοερὰς ἐνεργείας καὶ πάντα αἰσθητὰ καὶ νοητὰ καὶ πάντα οὐκ ὄντα καὶ ὄνταDe Mystica Theologia Chapter I

Here Dionysius goes beyond traditional ontological boundaries in fact he considers them of inferior significance instead he is in search of mental method that would allow for an adumbration of truth in his case the divine this is what lies behind his search on the ineffable ἄφθεγκτον (Eriugenarsquos translation (Migne 1857) ldquototus sine voce erit et totus adunabitur sonordquo is inaccurate) For Parmenides sense-perceived ὄντα and the picture of the material world by humans is not truth The way to truth requires a new mode of thinking which is revealed to him by a goddess

Parmenides according to Aristotle (Metaphysics Book 1 29) is the only philosopher who considers other causes besides material ones

Both thinkers seem committed to a mission to tell humans of a cosmic reality The grandeur of Parmenides lies in that he struggles to put in words a fuzzy intuition of what reality is an intuition which to borrow Dionysius word is ἄφθεγκτος but not ἄλογος as Ξένος maintains in Platos Sophist (Plat Soph 238c) Dionysius thesis draws on

98


sources such as the Bible the Neo-Platonists and Parmenides From a philological perspective there are laudable elements in De Mystica Theologia (see Henn M J 2003)

Paradoxical illogical statements appear in both philosophers

τὸν ὑπέρφωτον εὐχόμεθα γνόφον καὶ διrsquo ἀβλεψίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναι τὸν ὑπὲρ θέαν καὶ γνῶσιν αὐτῷ τῷ μὴ ἰδεῖν μηδὲ γνῶναι mdashτοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ ὄντως ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναιmdashDe Mystica Theologia Chapter II

Ξυνὸν δὲ μοί ἐστινὁππόθεν ἄρξωμαι τόθι γὰρ πάλιν ἵξομαι αὖθιςParmenides Fragment 5

The destination of the journey of Parmenides and Dionysius is a domain of the divine hidden from human experience

τήνδ ὁδόν - ἦ γὰρ ἀπ ἀνθρώπων ἐκτὸς πάτου ἐστίνParmenides Fragment 127

The terminus of both journeys is a supersensible world However while Dionysius sheds off not only the senses and common concepts but also the cognitive faculty Parmenides retains in fact puts in center stage reason Parmenides εἰς φάος becomes εἰς τὸν γνόφον in Dionysius

In the entire treatise the principal subject is αἰτία the divine Θεός occurs only once τῷ θεῷ and where it does occur it is in the hypothetical Κἀν τούτοις αὐτῷ μὲν οὐ συγγίνεται τῷ θεῷ θεωρεῖ

99


(Chapter I) The word ὑπέρθεε occurs once to qualify Trinity which is other than or inferior to the causa αἰτία we also encounter it later in τὸν ὑπὲρ θέαν (rendered as ipsum super Deum by Eriugena) It is perhaps significant that the treatise is addressed to Timotheos (Τιμο-θεος) In fact Dionysius states clearly that the αἰτία which cannot be described is not god οὔτε θεότης (Chapter V) The word θεῖος (divine holy sacred Latin divinus (or sacer) occurs several times in order to qualify places as well as things and persons eg with the word θέσεις in a deliberately constructed clause for alliteration

θέμενοι τὰς θείας θέσεις ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἀρχόμεθα τῆς θείας ἀφαιρέσεως (bold type mine)

In a Christian ecclesiastical world the word God could not be totally absent His adoption of a florid style weakens his work however we must concede his prose does not degenerate into lyricism and a concomitant use of pastoral setting packed with free roaming images of ordinary life (phrase borrowed from Henn M J 2003 p 5)

Parmenidesrsquo poem may have been a reaction to Zoroastrianism which may have reached the Greek States with the invasions of the Persians In this sense both Dionysius and Parmenides have their feet on theological grounds the former elaborating a theory while staying within theology the latter repudiating theology and attempting to adumbrate a method in natural science (see also Henn pp 7-8 also Nikoletseas M M 2013a)There are further similarities with the Parmenidean poem Parmenides employs ambiguity through a perplexing syntax involving the verb εἶναι

100


ἡ μὲν ὅπως ἔστιν τε καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἔστι μὴ εἶναιΠειθοῦς ἐστι κέλευθος - Ἀληθείῃ γὰρ ὀπηδεῖ - ἡ δ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν τε καὶ ὡς χρεών ἐστι μὴ εἶναιParmenides Fragment 23-5

ldquoIn the absence of concepts in his language ambiguity is recruited in the arsenal of his art Homer whom Parmenides consciously imitates uses this technique in the Iliad (Nikoletseas 2013a p 25)rdquo

ldquoIn this fragment [Fragment 2] of eight verses the verb to be εἰμί occurs ten times We may read this as a deliberate act in order to create an effect and an analogous impact on his audience (cf Parmenides Davidson T 1869 p 3) It is very likely that he was striving for an effect through ambiguity equivocation1 and amphiboly (see also Furth M 1968) and other techniques like the use of ostensibly tautology and double negatives It is endemic amongst poets to resort to such presumably witty tactics a good example is surrealistic poetry The use of ambiguity may have its source in unconscious processes During the act of creation a poet engages in a struggle to grasp and verbalize objects and phenomena yet unseenrdquo (Nikoletseas M M 2012a p 24)

Dionysius does the same for example in using the root of the verb γινώσκω (know)

καὶ διrsquo ἀβλεψίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναι ----------1cf equivocation on τόκους (interest offspring) in Platoἀλλὰ μὴ ὥσπερ νῦν τοὺς τόκους μόνον τοῦτον δὲ δὴ οὖν τὸν τόκον τε καὶ ἔκγονον αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ κομίσασθε Plat Rep 6507a

101


τὸν ὑπὲρ θέαν καὶ γνῶσιν αὐτῷ τῷ μὴ ἰδεῖν μηδὲ γνῶναι mdashτοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ ὄντως ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναιDe Mystica Theologia Chapter II

The similarity is perhaps not accidental especially if we consider the following two clauses

τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ νοεῖν ἐστίν τε καὶ εἶναιParmenides Fragment 3

αὐτῷ τῷ μὴ ἰδεῖν μηδὲ γνῶναι mdashτοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ ὄντως ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναι De Mystica Theologia Chapter II

Here Dionysius identifies the divine which is none other than the αἰτία of Aristotle with not knowing Parmenides identifies τό ἐὸν with knowing The two concepts may not be as unrelated as has traditionally been thought (Nikoletseas M M 2013b)

There is an additional similarity between Parmenides peri physeos and Dionysius De Mystica Theologia They both propose a method a means for reaching the desired goal Parmenides proposes a new lsquocalculusrsquo a new modus cogitandi (Nikoletseas M M 2013b Nikoletseas M M 2014) Dionysius urges his audience to shed off the known faculties of seeing apprehending and logic and in its place employ total abandonment of cognitive faculties

τῷ μηδὲν γινώσκειν ὑπὲρ νοῦν γινώσκων De Mystica Theologia Chapter I

As in Parmenides knowledge is not derived from

102


the senses in Parmenides it is νοητόν while in Dionysius the nature of this is not clear This is evident in the fact that the divine domain is dark and intellect is blind τοὺς ἀνομμάτους νόας The mysteries to be revealed are ἁπλᾶ καὶ ἀπόλυτα καὶ ἄτρεπτα

ἄτρεπτα1 τῆς θεολογίας μυστήριαDe Mystica Theologia

καὶ ἀτρεμέσι νοὸς ὀφθαλμοῖς εἰσδεξάμενοιDionysius Areopagite De caelesti hierarchia

Similar words we find in Parmenides ἀτρεμὲς2 ἀταρπόν however these terms are used in reference to truth as in natural science

Ἀληθείης εὐκυκλέος ἀτρεμὲς ἦτορ Parmenides Fragment 125

ὡς ἀγένητον ἐὸν καὶ ἀνώλεθρόν ἐστινἐστι γὰρ οὐλομελές τε καὶ ἀτρεμὲς2 ἠδ ἀτέλεστονParmenides Fragment 84

----------1ἄτρεπτος inalterable stable immutabilis immotus2ἀτρεμὲς unshaken firm

103


ἡ δ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν τε καὶ ὡς χρεών ἐστι μὴ εἶναιτὴν δή τοι φράζω παναπευθέα ἔμμεν ἀταρπόν1 Parmenides Fragment 25

The possibility that some words have been changed by transcribers of the Parmenidean poem is strong Palmer J (2009 p 350) has summarized the probable history of the transmission of the text An example is regarding the word οὐλομελές which in some version occurs as μουνογενές οὖλον μουνογενές

ἔστι γὰρ οὐλομελές τε καὶ ἀτρεμὲς ἠδ᾽ ἀγένητον(Plut Adv Col 1114c in Plutarch Moralia Gregorius N Bernardakis 1895) ----------1ἀταρπός same as ἀτραπός that is narrow road without detours Eustathius 1828 p 72ἀτραπιτός Eustathius 1828 p75αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ λιμένος προσέβη τρηχεῖαν ἀταρπὸνOD141 ἕλκωσ ἐξ ὄρεος κατὰ παιπαλόεσσαν ἀταρπὸνIL17743 κασσιτέρου μία δ οἴη ἀταρπιτὸς ἦεν ἐπ αὐτήνIL18565 Euclidrsquos dictum [] μὴ εἶναι βασιλικὴν ἀτραπὸν ἐπὶ γεωμετρίανrdquo (There is no royal road to Geometry) is enigmatic He probably meant that understanding Geometry is difficult and goes through a definite mode of thinkingIn both writers the adjective is applied to something abstract that relates to the truth In Parmenides to Alethea in Dionysius to the mysteries of theology3ἀταρπός or ἀτραπόςNote The derivation of ἀτραπός may be the from the verb τρέπω

104


Perhaps the most important similarity of De Mystica Theologia and the Parmenidean poem is the common subject of their work the being τὸ ἐὸν of Parmenides has as already stated been replaced by αἰτία (the divine) in Dionysiusrsquo treatise

Both works are enigmatic and mysteriousldquoThe poem [] is also enigmatic and mysterious perhaps a Pythagorean influence but also an influence of his sometime mentor Xenophanes who placed god at the center of his philosophy (Aristot Met 1986b) Parmenides dethroned god and in his position he placed the what-is which in some way later translators and commentators reinstated in disguise as a being or Being the meaning of which is often implicitly understood as an agentrdquo (Nikoletseas M M 2013a p 12) We might expect that Parmenides τό ἐὸν being is close to identical with Dionysius αἰτία the divine however it is Parmenides τό μὴ ἐὸν that Dionysius assumes as the divine As a result of this interesting deviations in the search of the two thinkers emerge

οὔτε γὰρ ἂν γνοίης τό γε μὴ ἐὸν - οὐ γὰρ ἀνυστόν -οὔτε φράσαις Parmenides Fragment 27

Similarly τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ νοεῖν ἐστίν τε καὶ εἶναιParmenides Fragment 3

However Dionysius reserves ἀγνωσία a state of absence of knowledge as the way to Being (the divine)

105


The epithets that Parmenides uses for non-being Dionysius reserves for the divine The divine therefore is cast as non-being (see Cusanus and Eriugena)

τὴν μὲν ἐᾶν ἀνόητον ἀνώνυμον (οὐ γὰρ ἀληθής ἔστιν ὁδός)Parmenides Fragment 817

οὔτε λόγος αὐτῆς ἐστιν οὔτε ὄνομα οὔτε γνῶσιςmiddot De Mystica Theologia Chapter V

The picture of the divine that Dionysius paints is on several counts in accord with the theses of Deus absconditus (2014)

The Socratic Platonic direction in the search for truth is via reason the Dionysian is negation of reason clearly related to Schopenhauers thesis For this reason I propose that Parmenides thesis lies in natural science while Dionysiusrsquo and Schopenhauerrsquos in the arts

For the remaining of this section I have opted for a tabular presentation of the concordances for the sake of parsimony and style

106


A partial list of concordance between Parmenides Peri Physeos and Dionysius De

Mystica TheologiaNote Where possible I have italicized some words and phrases in order to focus on the concordance and make understanding easier for the readerI have indicated the negative concordance by the sign

Parmenides Peri Physeos

Dionysius De Mystica Theologia

Ἔνθα πύλαι Νυκτός τε καὶ ἬματόςFragment 111

Note Both Parmenides and Dionysius begin with a lightdark threshold and a journey For Parmenides it is not clear whether the journey is into the darkness or light despite the established view My view is that Parmenides enters the world of darkness where the dead go (cf ἐπεὶ οὔτι σε μοῖρα κακὴ προὔπεμπε νέεσθαιτήνδ ὁδόν)

ἔνθα τὰ ἁπλᾶ καὶ ἀπόλυτα καὶ ἄτρεπτα τῆς θεολογίας μυστήρια κατὰ τὸν ὑπέρφωτον ἐγκεκάλυπται τῆς κρυφιομύστου σιγῆς γνόφονMTh I

Note Both Parmenides and Dionysius begin with a lightdark threshold and a journey For Dionysius the journey is into the darkness

κωφοὶ ὁμῶς τυφλοί τεFragment 67

ἀνομμάτους νόας MTh I

ἣν δὴ βροτοὶ εἰδότες οὐδὲν

πλάττονται δίκρανοι ἀμηχανίη γὰρ ἐν αὐτῶνστήθεσιν ἰθύνει πλακτὸν νόονFragment 64-6

οὐδὲν ὑπὲρ τὰ ὄντα ὑπερουσίως εἶναι φανταζομένους ἀλλrsquo οἰομένους εἰδέναιMTh I

107


δώματα ΝυκτόςFragment 19

κορυφήν [] γνόφονMTh I

εἰς φάος Fragment 110

laquoεἰς τὸν γνόφονraquo

κατὰ τὸν ὑπέρφωτον [] γνόφονMTh I

χάσμ ἀχανὲς Fragment 118

ἀκροτάτην κορυφήνMTh I

ὠσάμεναι κράτων ἄπο χερσὶ καλύπτραςFragment 110

ἀπερικαλύπτωςMTh I

ἔπος φάτο καί με προσηύδαFragment 110

κρυφιομύστου σιγῆς MTh I

χεῖρα δὲ χειρίδεξιτερὴν ἕλεν ὧδε δ ἔπος φάτο καί με προσηύδα Fragment 122-23

Compare to Homerἔν τ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ ἔφατ ἔκ τ ὀνόμαζεIL18423

ἀνάβασιν ὑπερβαίνουσι καὶ πάντα τὰ θεῖα φῶτα καὶ ἤχους καὶ λόγους οὐρανίους ἀπολιμπάνουσι MTh I

ἦ γὰρ ἀπ ἀνθρώπων ἐκτὸς πάτου ἐστίν Fragment 127

ταῖς νοηταῖς ἀκρότησι τῶν ἁγιωτάτων αὐτοῦ τόπων MTh I

108


Χρὴ τὸ λέγειν τε νοεῖν τ ἐὸν ἔμμεναιFragment 61

αὶ οὐ μηνιᾷ ἢ οὐ λέγεται οὐδὲ νοεῖται MTh III

ὅλως ἄφωνος ἔσται καὶ ὅλως ἑνωθήσεται τῷ ἀφθέγκτῳ MTh IIINote For Dionysius uniting ἑνωθήσεται takes the place of knowing νοεῖν

οὐδὲ λόγος ἐστὶν οὔτε νόησις οὔτε λέγεται οὔτε νοεῖται MTh V

τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ νοεῖν ἐστίν τε καὶ εἶναιFragment 3

καὶ διrsquo ἀβλεψίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναι τὸν ὑπὲρ θέαν καὶ γνῶσιν αὐτῷ τῷ μὴ ἰδεῖν μηδὲ γνῶναι mdashτοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ ὄντως ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναιMTh II

οὔτε γὰρ ἂν γνοίης τό γε μὴ ἐὸνFragment 27

τῷ μὴ ἰδεῖν μηδὲ γνῶναι mdashτοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ ὄντως ἰδεῖν καὶ γνῶναMTh II

οὐ γὰρ ἀνυστόν -οὔτε φράσαιςFragment 27

ὅλως ἄφωνος ἔσται [] τῷ ἀφθέγκτῳ MTh III

109


ἠμὲν Ἀληθείης εὐκυκλέος ἀτρεμὲς ἦτορ Fragment 129

τὰ ἁπλᾶ καὶ ἀπόλυτα καὶ ἄτρεπτα τῆς θεολογίας μυστήρια MTh I

Λεῦσσε δ ὅμως ἀπεόντα νόῳ παρεόντα βεϐαίως Fragment 31

Χρὴ δέ ὡς οἶμαι τὰς ἀφαιρέσεις ἐναντίως ταῖς θέσεσιν ὑμνῆσαιmiddot

τῇ ἀφαιρέσει μόνῃ τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀναφαίνοντες κάλλοςMTh II

οὐ γὰρ ἀποτμήξει τὸ ἐὸν τοῦ ἐόντος ἔχεσθαιοὔτε σκιδνάμενον πάντῃ πάντως κατὰ κόσμονοὔτε συνιστάμενονFragment 4

The image evoked by Parmenides is the image of the sculptor made more explicit inὥσπερ οἱ αὐτοφυὲς ἄγαλμα ποιοῦντες ἐξαιροῦντες πάντα τὰ ἐπιπροσθοῦντα τῇ καθαρᾷ τοῦ κρυφίου θέᾳ κωλύματα καὶ αὐτὸ ἐφrsquo ἑαυτοῦ τῇ ἀφαιρέσει μόνῃ τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀναφαίνοντες κάλλοςMTh II

οὐ γὰρ ἀνυστόν Fragment 27

ὡς ἐφικτόν MTh I

110


Ξυνὸν δὲ μοί ἐστινὁππόθεν ἄρξωμαι τόθι γὰρ πάλιν ἵξομαι αὖθιςFragment 5

καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνας μὲν ἀπὸ τῶν πρωτίστων ἀρχόμενοι καὶ διὰ μέσων ἐπὶ τὰ ἔσχατα κατιόντες ἐτίθεμενmiddot ἐνταῦθα δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἐπὶ τὰ ἀρχικώτατα τὰς ἐπαναβάσεις ποιούμενοι τὰ πάντα ἀφαιροῦμεν MTh II

τῷ πάντ ὄνομ ἔσταιὅσσα βροτοὶ κατέθεντο πεποιθότες εἶναι ἀληθῆFragment 838-39

οὔτε ὄνομα [ἐστὶν]MTh V

πᾶν πλέον ἐστὶν ὁμοῦ φάεος καὶ νυκτὸς ἀφάντουἴσων ἀμφοτέρων ἐπεὶ οὐδετέρῳ μέτα μηδένFragment 93-4

This explains the frequent use of epithets nouns and verbs in a mutually negating relation eg

τὸν ὑπέρφωτον [] γνόφον MTh I

διrsquo ἀβλεψίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἰδεῖνMTh II

111


ὡς ἀγένητον ἐὸν καὶ ἀνώλεθρόν ἐστινFragment 83

οὔτ ὄλλυσθαιFragment 840

ἐπεὶ γένεσις καὶ ὄλεθροςτῆλε μάλ ἐπλάχθησανFragment 827-28

οὐδὲ ἀλλοίωσιν ἢ φθορὰν [] οὔτε ἐστὶν οὔτε ἔχει MTh IV

ἐπεὶ νῦν ἔστιν ὁμοῦ πᾶνἕν συνεχέςFragment 85-6

Οὐδὲ διαιρετόν ἐστινFragment 822

Τῷ ξυνεχὲς πᾶν ἐστινFragment 825

τοῦ ἀΰλου καὶ ἀμεροῦς ἀγαθοῦMTh III

οὐδὲ [] μερισμὸν[] οὔτε ἐστὶν οὔτε ἔχει MTh IV

οὔτε ἓν οὔτε ἑνότηςMTh V

εἶναί τε καὶ οὐχίFragment 840

καὶ πάντα οὐκ ὄντα καὶ ὄντα MTh INote The entire De Mystica Theologia is bases on this statement The existence of the divine αἰτία or other is not denied eg ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν θέσιν ἐστὶν ἡ παντελὴς καὶ ἑνιαία τῶν πάντων αἰτία (MTh V) however the entire treatise is devoted on the divine not being εἶναί οὐχί

112


οὖλον ἀκίνητόν τ ἔμεναιFragment 838

οὔτε ἕστηκεν οὔτε κινεῖται οὔτε ἡσυχίαν ἄγειMTh V

πεπλανημένοι Fragment 854

οὔτε πλάνη οὔτε ἀλήθειαMTh V

ἠδὲ βροτῶν δόξας ταῖς οὐκ ἔνι πίστις ἀληθήςFragment 130

δόξας δ ἀπὸ τοῦδε βροτείαςμάνθανε κόσμονFragment 851-52

οὔτε φαντασίαν ἢ δόξαν ἢ λόγον ἢ νόησιν ἔχειmiddotMTh V

ἐπεὶ πᾶν ἐστιν ὁμοῖονFragment 822

οὔτε ὁμοιότης ἢ ἀνομοιότης MTh V

113


τῆλε μάλ ἐπλάχθησαν ἀπῶσε δὲ πίστις ἀληθήςFragment 828

εἰδότες οὐδὲν πλάττονταιFragment 64-5

πλαγκτόν ἠμὲν Ἀληθείης εὐκυκλέος ἀτρεμὲς ἦτορFragment 129Πλαγκτός errans vagans and metaphorically stolidus mente errans

οὔτε πλάνη οὔτε ἀλήθεια MTh V

(πλάζομαι πλανάω)

τῶν πλαττομένωνMTh I

βροτοὶ εἰδότες οὐδὲνFragment 64

Τόν σοι ἐγὼ διάκοσμον ἐοικότα πάντα φατίζω Fragment 860

ἀλλrsquo οἰομένους εἰδέναιMTh I ὡς ἡμᾶς εἰδέναιMTh V Note in both texts the problem of knowing is indicated

οὐκ εἶναι ταὐτὸν νενόμισταικοὐ ταὐτόνFragment 68

ὑπέρφωτον [] γνόφον MTh I

παλίντροπός ἐστι κέλευθοςFragment 69

ἄτρεπτα τῆς θεολογίας μυστήρια MTh I

114


Μόνος δ ἔτι μῦθος ὁδοῖολείπεται ὡς ἔστινFragment 81-2

οὔτε ἐστὶν αὐτῆς καθόλου θέσις οὔτε ἀφαίρεσιςMTh V

ἕν συνεχέςFragment 86

ἢ πάμπαν πελέναι χρεών ἐστιν ἢ οὐχίFragment 812


πολυειδῶν μορφωμάτωνMTh I



οὔτε ὁμοιότης ἢ ἀνομοιότηςMTh V

οὐδέ τι τῇ μᾶλλονFragment 823

οὔτε σμικρότης οὔτε ἰσότης οὔτε ἀνισότηςMTh V

115


οὐ γὰρ ἀποτμήξει τὸ ἐὸν τοῦ ἐόντος Fragment 4

ἐξαιροῦντες πάντα τὰ ἐπιπροσθοῦντα τῇ καθαρᾷ τοῦ κρυφίου θέᾳ κωλύματα καὶ αὐτὸ ἐφrsquo ἑαυτοῦ τῇ ἀφαιρέσει μόνῃ τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀναφαίνοντες κάλλοςMTh IINote the recursive (reflexive) ἀποτμήξει τὸ ἐὸν τοῦ ἐόντος in Parmenides and αὐτὸ ἐφrsquo ἑαυτοῦ τῇ ἀφαιρέσει in Dionysius

οὐ γὰρ φατὸν οὐδὲ νοητόνFragment 88

οὔτε λέγεται οὔτε νοεῖταιMTh V

Οὐδὲ ποτ ἐκ μὴ ἐόντος ἐφήσει πίστιος ἰσχύςγίγνεσθαί τι παρ αὐτό Fragment 813

οὐδέ τι τῶν οὐκ ὄντων οὐδέ τι τῶν ὄντων ἐστίνMTh V

Πῶς δ ἂν ἔπειτα πέλοιτὸ ἐόν πῶς δ ἄν κε γένοιτο Fragment 824

οὔτε υἱότης οὔτε πατρότηςMTh V

οὖλον ἀκίνητόν τ ἔμεναι Fragment 838

οὔτε ἕστηκεν οὔτε κινεῖται οὔτε ἡσυχίαν ἄγει MTh V

μᾶλλον τῇ δ ἧσσον ἐπεὶ πᾶν ἐστιν ἄσυλον Fragment 848

οὔτε ἰσότης οὔτε ἀνισότηςMTh V

116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE

Looking into De Mystica Theologia through literary criteria we see an artless work thriving in hyperbole and ad nauseam repetition of negation Similarly its philosophical message is an assemblage of ideas of previous philosophers from Parmenides to Proclus Nevertheless the philosophical thesis that not-being rather than being is of greater importance in our search for truth is significant not only because later theologian philosophers based their philosophies on it but also because it is in accord with psychoanalytic regression Kants Ding an sich Schopenhauers de-emphasizing of reason and perhaps in our days the flourishing interest in nothingness alias quantum vacuum and the Higgs boson

Supporting the assertion that Dionysius De Mystica Theologia was conceived as a philosophical literary work rather than mystic or theological is the observation that it does not contain descriptions or reference to rituals liturgical contemplative or occult practices neither any visionary or otherwise extraordinary experiences or mental states it does however focus on the union with the divine which is identified with αἰτία which in turn points to physics rather than Christian theology The method prescribed by Dionysius does not convince either as being a method for a mystic society Dionysius protocol for attaining the mystic goal exhausts itself in virtually one exhortation which the colloquial expression ldquolet gordquo may adequately describe The process that this exhortation prescribes is none other than psychoanalytic regression

117


εἰς τὸν ὑπὲρ νοῦν εἰσδύνοντες γνόφον οὐ βραχυλογίαν ἀλλrsquo ἀλογίαν παντελῆ καὶ ἀνοησίαν εὑρήσομεν De Mystica Theologia Chapter III

As in psychoanalysis this regression may be so profound as to extend all the way to the inorganic (Cusanus a se) death as the latter is conceived by the layman As stated elsewhere in this book Dionysiusrsquo mystic state is death1

Arguments of a connection between the Pauline unknown God2 (Acts 17 and Romans 1) and the unknowable God of De Mystica cannot muster as strong a support as that issuing from a search for connections to Parmenidean and Platonic conceptions

In Acts 17 we have direct evidence of the distance between the Athenian (here Dionysian) and Pauline theses regarding God while Paul states that God cannot be pictured by man he does subtract a degree of unknowability from Him ----------1ἤϊε τὸν δ ἄγε μοῖρα κακὴ θανάτοιο IL13602χαῖρ ἐπεὶ οὔτι σε μοῖρα κακὴ προὔπεμπε νέεσθαιτήνδ ὁδόν - ἦ γὰρ ἀπ ἀνθρώπων ἐκτὸς πάτου ἐστίνParmenides Fragment 126-27ταῖς νοηταῖς ἀκρότησι τῶν ἁγιωτάτων αὐτοῦ τόπων De Mystica Theologia Chapter I 2ldquoδιερχόμενος γὰρ καὶ ἀναθεωρῶν τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν εὗρον καὶ βωμὸν ἐν ᾧ ἐπεγέγραπτο ἀγνώστῳ θεῷ ὃ οὖν ἀγνοοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτεrdquo Act 1723 SeptuagintIn the 1519 edition of De Mystica Theologia we read the following headingOrat sacet Dionysius trinitarem quae velit eum ducere ad cognitionem incogniti dei

118


ζητεῖν τὸν θεὸν εἰ ἄρα γε ψηλαφήσειαν αὐτὸν καὶ εὕροιεν καί γε οὐ μακρὰν ἀπὸ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου ἡμῶν ὑπάρχονταAct 1728

ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ζῶμεν καὶ κινούμεθα καὶ ἐσμέν ὡς καί τινες τῶν καθrsquo ὑμᾶς ποιητῶν εἰρήκασιν τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμένAct 1729

γένος οὖν ὑπάρχοντες τοῦ θεοῦ Act 1730

The chasm that separates Dionysian from Pauline theology is evident in Acts 17

καθότι ἔστησεν ἡμέραν ἐν ᾗ μέλλει κρίνειν τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἐν ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὥρισεν πίστιν παρασχὼν πᾶσιν ἀναστήσας αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν Act 1731

Dionysius views death as salvation in that man returns literally dissolves into the great unknown while Paul speaks of resurrection of the dead Dionysius views are in accord with modern conceptions of death while Paulrsquos views are not in line with scientific views of today as they were not among the Athenians at the time of Paulrsquos visit in Athens

ἀκούσαντες δὲ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν οἱ μὲν ἐχλεύαζον οἱ δὲ εἶπαν ἀκουσόμεθά σου περὶ τούτου καὶ πάλινAct 1733οὕτως ὁ Παῦλος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν Act 1734

119


The distance of the Pauline God from the unknown God of the Athenians was so vast that Paul was made fun of to the point that he stopped his speech walked away and left Athens for Corinth (Act 181) where he was more successful (Act 188) and stayed for a year and six months (Act 1811) The views of Dionysius are as much in tune with the views we hold today as the views of the Christian Church are in tune with those of Paul Lastly it is intriguing to note that in the scene we describe here of Paulrsquos speech to the Athenians where Paul was made fun of on account of his views regarding the unknown God of the two named Athenians that Paul succeeded in proselytizing was the Areopagite Dionysius Διονύσιος ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης (not the writer of De Mystica Theologia) and a woman named Damaris Δάμαρις

Dionysius training in philosophy as well as his insights regarding ontology served as the backbone for developing his theological views Adopting this view of the Corpus Dionysiacum facilitates our understanding of the philosophy of his successors notably Eriugena and Cusanus Without downgrading Procline influences I maintain that Dionysius thought must be understood as an offspring of Parmenides and to a lesser extent of Plato or the Neoplatonists

Parmenides poem constitutes an apocalypsis an uncovering a revealing The term is used here in the same sense as in the last book of the New Testament The Apocalypse by John of Patmos however without the catastrophic hues of the latter Parmenides apocalypse has been viewed as the revealing of the road to Being a term that ever since

120


Plato was identified with Platos lsquoideasrsquo ἰδέα1 I recently argued that Parmenides being τό ἐὸν referred to a path to knowing nature a natural science method perhaps a formal system or a calculus of sorts (Nikoletseas 2013a)

Dionysius De Mystica Theologia as the etymology of the word would indicate is not an attempt to revealing God to us in the sense of everyday experience At the end of the book Deus remains absconditus The apophatic arguments of Dionysius define a peculiar method of revelation one of covering καλύπτειν one attribute after another in a set of all possible attributes in the hope that what will remain would be an adumbration2of God The metaphor Dionysius uses that of a sculptor chipping off parts of a piece of marble in his effort to reveal the form residing hiding in it must be seen as a primitive way of expressing the thesis of this paragraph Apophatic arguments are seen and indeed most of the time are evasive tactics in the face of ignorance for in the end what remains does not constitute a definition or picture of the object in question Nevertheless we should not forget the very foundation of the Academy from the beginning had apophatic hues the dialectic method was principally a way of asking questions about the truth not making statements about the truth This was implemented by asking the interlocutors questions and eventually leading them to accept that----------1καὶ τὰ μὲν δὴ ὁρᾶσθαί φαμεν νοεῖσθαι δ᾽ οὔ τὰς δ᾽ αὖ ἰδέας νοεῖσθαι μέν ὁρᾶσθαι δ᾽ οὔPlat Rep 507bεἰδέα ἰδέω εἴδω οἶδα to know2ἀμυδρόν τι συνάγομεν τῆς ἀληθείας ἲνδαλμα Paraphrasis Pachymerae (60) in Migne J-P 1857 p 1064

121


their thesis had to be rejected This is in essence an apophatic statement since what emerges is the result of negating theses Dionysius is aware of this hence his fascination with darkness and knowledge by abandonment of methods of knowing as we view them

The interest and even the fascination over Dionysius philosophy from Eriugena (c 815 ndash c 877) to Cusanus (1401ndash1464) through our days is perhaps due to these paradoxical mystical theses

The apophatic thesis of De Mystica Theologia is closer to τό μὴ ἐὸν and οὐκ ἔστιν of Parmenides rather than to τό ἐὸν In my book Parmenides the World as Modus Cogitandi I argued that by τό μὴ ἐὸν and οὐκ ἔστιν Parmenides intended to steer humans away from thinking in terms of concepts derived from our senses and instead point in the direction of a way ὁδός that is totally formal perhaps a mathematical calculus It is evident therefore that Dionysius had similar intuitions regarding reality (in his case being a theologian this was God) however Dionysius unlike Parmenides did not offer a cataphatic statement regarding the object of his search The reason for this may be the fact that as I argued in my book on Parmenides philosophers after Parmenides did not understand the originality of Parmenidesrsquo proposition With Plato in the homonymous dialogue Parmenidesrsquo thought journeyed through the centuries distorted to suit the philosophy of Plato Dionysius was imbued with this altered exegesis of Parmenides

It must not escape us that the second part of

122


Parmenides poem is apophatic despite the fact that it does affirm events and attributes since it begins with an exhortation by the goddess to deny what was to be related

δόξας δ ἀπὸ τοῦδε βροτείαςμάνθανε κόσμον ἐμῶν ἐπέων ἀπατηλὸν ἀκούωνFragment 851-52

In this manner Parmenides avoids the repeated use of οὐδὲ οὔτε οὐ οὐκ οὐχ that we encounter ad nauseam in Dionysius

The unknowable of Dionysius must not be considered identical or even similar to Kantrsquos nooumenon and Ding an sich While both philosophers do push aside senses in the effort to understand the world Kant argues that the real picture of the world is a mental type of object the nooumenon alluding to the possibility of conceptualizing the world were it not for the constraints of our corporeal cognitive apparatus while Dionysius speaks of abandonment into the darkness of the unknown the literal absolute in Latin Kantrsquos Ding an sich is similar to Eriugenarsquos a se1 as it shares properties with the thing-in-itself however Kantrsquos concept is free theological and eschatological hues

The main thesis of the present book is that Parmenides peri physeos influenced Dionysius in writing De Mystica Theologia Although I present numerous instances of apparent concordances it would be incorrect to argue that my thesis is conclusively supported The reason for this is the fact that although the thesis of Parmenides was

123


mistaken by Plato and the Neoplatonists the conceptual and language tools remained the same through the ages Ontological questions and varying modes of attacking these questions occupied a central position throughout the life of the Academy As I show in this book apophatic philosophy did not originate with Dionysius neither the Neoplatonists

Concluding I consider the evidence I presented as strongly supporting the proposition that pseudo-Dionysius De Mystica Theologia (chapter V in particular) was written as a literal antithesis of Parmenides peri physeos mainly Fragment 8

124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aeschylos Tragedies and FragmentsTransl Plumptre E HVol I Boston 1909

Aristophanes Aristophanes Comoediae ed FW Hall and WM Geldart vol 2 FW Hall and WM Geldart Clarendon Press Oxford 1907

Aristotle Aristotles Metaphysics ed WD Ross Oxford Clarendon Press 1924 (Greek)

Aristoteles Aristotelis opera ex recens I Bekkenri Accedunt indices Sylburgiani Vol 7 1837

Aristotle Aristotle in 23 Volumes Vols17 18 translated by Hugh Tredennick Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1933 1989

Ast F Lexicon Platonicum sive Vocum Platonicarum index Volume 2 in libraria Weidmaniana 1836

Bekker I Immanuelis Bekkeri professoris Berolinensis Anecdota Graeca 1 Lexica Segueriana apud G C Nauckium 1814

Berg R M Proclus Hymns Essays Translations Commentary BRILL 2001

Berkeley G A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge Arc Manor LLC 2008

Bishop P The Dionysian Self CG Jungs Reception of Friedrich Nietzsche Walter de

127


Gruyter 1995

Bidez J Proclus 1936

Boring M E Revelation Westminster John Knox Press Jan 1 1989

Camus A Le mythe de SisypheEssai sur labsurde Paris Les Eacuteditions Gallimard 1942

Camus A The Myth of Sisyphus transl Justin OBrien Alfred A Knopf Inc 1955

Capelle C Autour Du Decret de 1210 III Amaury de Bene Etude Sur Son Pantheisme Formel Vrin 1932

Carle H Crise des croyances M Renan et lesprit de systegraveme Henri Martin Jean Reynaud et la tradition Courniol 1863

Coakley S Charles M Stang C M Re-thinking Dionysius the Areopagite John Wiley amp Sons 2011

Corsini E Il trattato De Divinis Nominibus dello pseudo-Dionigi e i commenti neoplatonici al Parmenidi orino G Giappichelli Turin 1962

Curd P Graham D W The Oxford Handbook of Presocratic Philosophy Oxford Handbooks Online 2008

Curtius G Principles of Greek Etymology vol 1 Transl Wilkins A S and England E B London John Murray 1886

128


Cusa Nicolai de Opera Omnia Vol XI 2 Trialogus de possest Edidit R Steiger Hamburgi 1973 Novam editionem curavit Burkhard Mojsisch 2007

Cusanus Nicolaus Nicolai de Cusa Opera OmniaVol IV Opuscula I [De Deo abscondito De quaerendo Deum De filiatione Dei De dato Patris luminum Coniectura de ultimis diebus De genesi] ed P Wilpert Hamburgi 1959

Damascius (Damascenus) Kopp J Aporiai kai lyseis peri tōn prōtōn archōn Broumlnner 1826

DAncona C The Libraries of the Neoplatonists Proceedings of the Meeting of the European Science Foundation Network Late Antiquity and Arabic Thought Patterns in the Constitution of European Cultureldquo BRILL 2007

Davies O Turner D Silence and the Word Cambridge University Press 2002

Denys LAreacuteopagite Ouvres de Saint Denys LAreopagite tradui du Grec par Mgr Darboy Paris 1845

Diels H Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker ed Walther Kranz Berlin 1951

Diels H Kranz W Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker griechisch und deutsch Weidmannsche buchhandlung 1903

Diels H Parmenides Lehrgedichtgriechisch und deutsch mit einem Anhang uber

129


griechische Thuren und Schlosser G Reimer 1897

Dillon J M Damascius on the Ineffable in Archiv fuumlr die Geschichte der Philosophie 78 120-129 1996

Dillon J The Heirs of Plato A Study of the Old Academy (347-274 BC) A Study of the Old Clarendon Press 2003

Dionysius Areopagita D Dionysii Areopagitae De mystica Theologia lib I Miller 1519

Pseudo-Dionysius (the Areopagite) Balthasar Cordier Pierre Lansselius Saint Maximus (Confessor) George Pachymeres Tou en agiois patros ēmōn Dionysiou tou Areiopagitou ta sōzomen hapanta Volume 1 Typis Antonii Zatta 1755

Denys lAreacuteopagite Goulu Les Oeuvres du divin St Denys Areacuteopagite traduites du grec en franccedilois par fr Jean de St Franccedilois [Goulu] Avec une apologie pour les oeuvres du mesme auteur 1629

Dionysius Areopagita Traversari Ambrogio (tr) Opera Paris Jean Higman amp Wolfgand Hypyl 1498

Dionysius Areopagita in Sōzomena panta In quo universus Sancti textus et Georgii Pachymerae Paraphrasis Graece et Latine cum Adnotationibus Balthasaris Corderii in singula capita continentur Vol 1 Dionysius (Areopagita) Balthasar Cordier Georgius (Pachymeres) Migne 1857

130


Dionysius Areopagita De Mystica Theologia Interprete Balthasare Corderio in Sōzomena panta In quo universus Sancti textus et Georgii Pachymerae Paraphrasis Graece et Latine cum Adnotationibus Balthasaris Corderii in singula capita continentur Vol 1 Dionysius (Areopagita) Balthasar Cordier Georgius (Pachymeres) Migne 1857 pp 997ff

Dionysius the Areopagite The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite transl by John Parker 1897

Dionysius the Areopagite The Mystical Theology of Dionysius Areopagite Transl from the Greek with commentaries by the editors of the Shrive of Wisdom Surrey England 1923

Diogenes Laertius The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers Transl Yonge X D London H G Bohn 1853

Diogenes Laertius Lives of Eminent Philosophers R D Hicks Cambridge Harvard University Press 1972 (First published 1925)

DIorio P The Eternal Return Genesis and Interpretation in The Agonist vol III issue I spring 2011

Dodds ER The Elements of Theology Oxford Clarendon 1933 19632

Dunne M McEvoy J History and Eschatology in John Scottus Eriugena and His Time Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of the Society for the Promotion of Eriugenian Studies Leuven

131


University Press 2002

Eliot T S Four Quartets Harcourt Brace 1943

Epicurus Epicurus The extant remains Bailey C Oxford at the Clarendon Press 1926

Erigena J S John Scotus Erigena and His De Divisione Naturae With a Translation of Book One Into English University of Washington 1942

Erigenae Johannis Scoti De divisione naturae libriquinque accedunt tredecim auctoris hymni ad carolum calvum ex palimpsestis Angeli Maii Johannes Scotus Erigena Christoph Bernhard Schlόter Angelo Mai Typis et Sumptibus Librariae Aschendorffianae 1838

Eriugena Giovanni Scoto Divisione della natura testo latino a fronte traduzione di Nicola Gorlani Milano Bompiani 2013

Eriugena John Scottus The Periphyseon in The Philosophy of John Scottus Eriugena Cambridge University Press 1989 pp 58-80

Euripides Euripidis Fabulae vol 3 Gilbert Murray Oxford Clarendon Press Oxford 1913 (Greek)

Eustathius Index in Eustathii commentarios in Homeri Iliadem et Odysseam Matthaeus Devarius Eustathius (Archbishop of Thessalonica)sumtibus J A G Weigel 1828

Eustathius Eustathii archiepiscopi

132


Thessalonicensis commentarii ad Homeri Odysseam Ad fidem exempli romani editi Volumes 1-2 Johann Gottfried Stallbaum Weigel 1825

Fiori E Mystique et liturgie entre Denys lrsquoAreacuteopagite et le Livre de Hieacuterotheacutee aux origines de la mystagogie syro-occidentale in A Desreumaux (ed) Les mystiques syriaques Paris Geuthner 2011 27-44

Franke W (ed) On What Cannot Be SaidApophatic Discourses in Philosophy Religion Literature and the Arts Vol I Classic Formulations University of Notre Dame Press 2007

Fraumlnkel H Wege und Formen fruumlhgriechischen Denkens Beck Muumlnchen 1955

Freud S The Interpretation of Dreams Macmillan New York 1913

Freud S Dream Psychology Psychoanalysis for Beginners 1921

Gersh S E From Iamblichus to Eriugena An Investigation of the Prehistory and Evolution of the Pseudo-Dionysian Tradition Brill Archive 1978

Glazebrook T Heideggers Philosophy of Science Fordham University Press 2000

Gregorius Nyssenus Gregorii Nysseni Opera Vol 6 BRILL 1986

Guthrie W K C A History of Greek Philosophy

133


Volume 2 The Presocratic Tradition fromParmenides to Democritus Cambridge University Press 1962

Harmless W Mystics Oxford University Press 2007

Heil G Ritter A M Corpus Dionysiacum II Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita De coelesti hierarchia De ecclesiastica hierarchia De mystica theologia Epistulae Berlin Walter De Gruyter 1991

Heil G Ritter A M Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita De Coelesti Hierarchia De Ecclesiastica Hierarchia De Mystica Theologia Epistulae 2 uumlberarbeitete Auflage Walter de Gruyter 2012

Henn M J Parmenides of Elea a verse translation with interpretative essays and commentary to the text Greenwood Publishing Group 2003

Heraclitus Fragments of Heraclitus transl John Burnet 1912

Homer Homeri Opera in five volumes Oxford Oxford University Press 1920

Plato The Symposium of Plato R G Bury Cambridge W Heffer and Sons 1909

Hopkins J Concise Introduction to the Philosophy of Nicholas of Cusa U of Minnesota Press 1978

Ivaacutenka E von Der Aufbau der Schrift De Divinis

134


nominibus Des Ps-Dionysios Scholastic 15 1940 pp 386-399

Jackson J J The Iliad of Homer a Parsed Interlinear Text (Books 1-24) HandHeldClassicscom 2008

James W The Varieties of Religious Experience A Study in Human Nature Modern Library 1905

James W The Varieties of Religious Experience A Study in Human Nature 2008

Kahn C Some disputed questions in theinterpretation of Parmenides Annals de filosofiaclassica Vol 1 no 2 2007 p 44

Kahn C H Essays on Being Oxford UniversityPress 2009

Kahn C H Verhaar J W M The verb be andits synonyms philosophical and grammaticalstudies The verb be in ancient Greek Reidel1972

Kant Immanuel Allgemeine Naturgeschichte und Theorie des Himmels Fischer 1755

Kant Immanuel Critique of Pure Reason Ed PaulGuyer and Allen W Wood Cambridge CambridgeUP 1998

Kant I Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens p367 transl Stephen Palmquist in Kants Critical Religion Aldershot Ashgate 2000

135


Kant I Critique of Pure Reason transl Norman Kemp Smith New York Palgrave Macmillan 2003

Kant I Universal natural history and theory of the heavens or essay on the constitution and the mechanical origin of the whole universe according to Newtonian principles (1755) transl by Reinheardt O in Kant Natural Science Eric Watkins ed Cambridge University Press 2012

Kearney R The God Who May Be A Hermeneuticsof Religion Indiana University Press 2001Kirk G S The Presocratic Philosophers ACritical History with a Selection of Texts

Kirk G S The Presocratic Philosophers ACritical History with a Selection of TextsCambridge University Press 1983

Kirk G S Raven J E The PresocraticPhilosophers Cambridge University Press 1957

Kirk G S J E Raven and M Schonfield ThePresocratic Philosophers 1983

Kues Nikolaus von Werke (Neuausg d Strassburger Drucks von 1488) Walter de Gruyter 1967

Kuumlrnberger F Gesammelte Werke edited by Otto Erich Deutsch 1910-1911

Laozi Tao Te Ching transl Livia Kohn 1993

Laozi Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching Ursula K Le Guin Shambhala Publications 2009

136


Lewis C T Charles Short C Latin Dictionary Founded on Andrews edition of Freunds Latin dictionary Oxford Clarendon Press 1879

Liddell H G Scott R A Greek-English Lexicon revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie Oxford Clarendon Press 1940

Lucian Works with an English Translation by A M Harmon Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1936

Lysias Lysias with an English translation by WRM Lamb Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1930

Lysias Lysiae Orationes selectae In Eratosthenem In Agoratum De caede Eratosthenis Pro Mantitheo De affectata tyrannide In diogitinem Lysias Dionysius (Halicarnassensis) Henricus van Herwerden Van Bolhuis Hoitsema 1863Ernst Mach History and Root of the Principle of the Conservation of Energy P Jourdain transl of 1872 English Edition 1911

McCracken C ldquoWhat Does Berkeleys God See in the Quadrdquo Archiv fur Geschichte der Philosophie 1979 61 280ndash92

McCracken C J ldquoGodless Immaterialism On Athertons Berkeleyrdquo In Berkeleys Metaphysics Structural Interpretive and Critical Essays R G Muehlmann (ed) University Park Pennsylvania

137


State University Press 1995 pp 249ndash260

Mann S E An Indo-European comparative dictionary H Buske 1984

Marsonet M Science Reality and LanguageSUNY Press 1995

McCoy J Early Greek Philosophy CUA Press 2013

Miernowski J Le Dieu Neacuteant Theacuteologies neacutegatives agrave laube des temps modernes BRILL 1998

Migne J-P Patrologie cursus completus seu bibliothecaomnium SS patrum doctorum scriptorumque ecclesisticorumad ann1439 pro graecisSeries graeca Garnier et Migne 1857

Miller C L Reading Cusanus Metaphor and Dialectic in a Conjectural Universe CUA Press 2003

Miller C L Cusanus Nicolaus [Nicolas of Cusa] The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2013 Edition) Edward N Zalta (ed)

Montet L Des livres du Pseudo-Denys lAreacuteopagite Paris 1848

Moran D The Philosophy of John Scotus Eriugena Cambridge University Press 1989

Nietzsche F Also sprach Zarathustra Volker Gerhardt Oldenbourg Verlag 2000

138


Nietzsche F Thus Spoke Zarathustra transl Walter Kaufmann 1976

Nikoletseas M M Behavioral and Neural Plasticity 2010

Nikoletseas M M The Iliad - Twenty Centuries of Translation 2012

Nikoletseas M M Parmenides The World as Modus Cogitandi 2013a

Nikoletseas M M The Iliad The Male Totem The succedaneum theory 2013b

Nikoletseas M M Deus Absconditus - The Hidden God 2014

Novotnyacute František Platonis epistulae commentariis illustratae Brno Filosofickaacute fakulta s podporou Ministerstva školstviacute a naacuterodniacute osvěty 1930 pp [53]-307

Origenes Pierre Daniel Huet Pamphilus Caesareensis Sanctus S Gregorius Thaumaturgus Ta heuriskomena panta Opera omnia quae graece vel latine tantum exstant annotationibus illustr cum vita auctoris ediderunt Carolus et Carolus-Vincentius Delarue II rec emend Carolus-Henricus Eduard Lommatzsch Vol 12 Haude amp Spener 1841

Pajares A B Poetae epici Graeci testimonia et fragmenta Orphicorum et orphicis similium testimonia et fragmenta Pars II Fasciculus 2Walter de Gruyter 2005

139


Palmer J Parmenides and Presocratic PhilosophyOxford University Press Oxford 2009Parmenides Gallop D Parmenides of EleaFragments A Text and Translation With anIntroduction University of Toronto Press 1991

Plutarch Moralia Gregorius N Bernardakis Leipzig Teubner 1888 1

Passa E Parmenide tradizione del testo e questioni di lingua Seminari romani di cultura greca Quaderni 12 Roma Edizioni Quasar 2009

Pindar The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys LittD FBA Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1937 (Greek)

Pindar Odes Diane Arnson Svarlien 1990Plato Bekker I Estienne H Heindorf L F Heusde P W van Wyttenbach D A Lindavius Boeckhiiqus Ficino M Platonis et quae vel Platonis esse feruntur vel Platonica solent comitari Scripta graece omnia ad codices manuscriptos Volume 5 excudebat AJ Valpy 1826

Plato Platonis Opera ed John Burnet Oxford University Press 1903 (Greek)

Plato Plato in Twelve Volumes Vol 12 translated by Harold N Fowler Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921

Perl E D Theophany The Neoplatonic Philosophy

140


of Dionysius the Areopagite SUNY Press 2012

Plotin Les Enneades de Plotin Tome 1 Hachette Paris 1857

Plotinus Five Books of Plotinus Viz On Felicity On the Nature and Origin of Evil On Providence On Nature Contemplation and the One and On the Descent of the Soul E Jeffrey 1794


Plutarc Escrits dEacutetica Praacutectica (Moralia) vol 1 Barcelona 2013

Proclus E R Dodds Proclus The Elements of Theology a Revised Text with Translation Introduction and Commentary Clarendon Press 1962

Proclus Diadochus In Platonis Cratylum commentaria Walter de Gruyter 1994

Proclus Proclus Commentary on Platos Timaeus Cambridge University Press 2007

Proclus T Taylor Six Books of Proclus On the Theology of Plato Trans from the Greek Volume 1 1816

Proclus Ek ton Proklou scholion eis Platonos Kratylon eklogai Ex Procli scholiis in Cratylum Platonis excerpta E codd edidit Io Fr BoissonadeSumtibus JAG Weigelii in Lipsiae 1820

141


Rappe S Reading Neoplatonism Non-discursive Thinking in the Texts of Plotinus Proclus and Damascius Cambridge University Press 2007

Remes P Neoplatonism University of California Press 2008

Renan E Eacutetudes dhistoire Reacuteligieuse M Leacutevy fregraveres 1863

Riccati C Processio et explicatio La Doctrine de la creacuteation chez Jean Scot et Nicolas de Cues Naples Bibliopolis 1983

Roberts J R A Metaphysics for the Mob The Philosophy of George Berkeley The Philosophy of George Berkeley Oxford University Press 2007

Rorem P Procession and Return in Thomas Acquinas and His Predecessors The Princeton Seminary Review 13 2 1992 147-163

Rorem P Lamoreaux J C John of Scythopolis and the Dionysian Corpus Annotating the Areopagite Oxford University Press 1998

Saffrey H D La theacuteurgie chez les neacuteoplatoniciens en Recherches sur le Neacuteoplatonisme apregraves Plotin Pariacutes 1990 p 168

Samuelson N Jewish Philosophy An Historical Introduction Bloomsbury 2006

Scapulae I Lexicon Graeco-LatinumTypographeo Clarendoniano 1820

142


Schopenhauer A The World as Will and Representation transl by E F J Payne 1958)

Sheppard A D R Studies on the 5th [fifth] and 6th [sixth] Essays of Proclus Commentary on the Republic Vandenhoeck amp Ruprecht 1980

Sengupta P K History of Science and Philosophy of Science A Historical Perspective of the Evolution of Ideas in Science Pearson Education India 2010

Suchla B R Corpus Dionysiacum I Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita De divinis nominibus Berlin Walter De Gruyter 1990

Sturz F W Sylburg F Etymologicon magnum sev Magnum grammaticae penu IAG Weigel 1816

Sturz F W Etymologicum graecae linguae Gudianum et alia grammaticorum scripta e codicibus manuscriptis nunc primum edita Accedunt notae ad etymologycon magnum ineditae E H Barkeri Imm Bekkeri Lud Kulencampii Amad Peyroni aliorumque quas digessit et una cum suis edidit Frider Gul Sturzius Kulenkamp apud J A G Weigel 1818

Taraacuten L Collected Papers (1962 - 1999) BRILL 2001

Taylor Th Proclus Theology of Plato (The Thomas Taylor Series VIII) London Prometheus Trust 1816

Timon of Phlius Pyrrhonism Into Poetry

143


L Clayman Walter de Gruyter 2009

Trommius A Abrahami Trommii Concordantiae graecae versionis vulgo dictae LXX interpretumsumptibus Sopcietatis 1718

Tuggy A E Lexico Griego Espanol de Nuevo Testamento Editorial Mundo Hispano 2003

Turner J D Corrigan K Platos Parmenides and Its Heritage Its Reception in Neoplatonic Jewish and Christian Texts Society of Biblical Lit 2010

Vogel De C J Greek Philosophy Volume I Thales to Plato Leiden E J Brill 1950

Wallis R Neoplatonism London 1972

Watkins C The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2000

Watts P M Nicolaus Cusanus A Fifteenth-Century Vision of Man BRILL 1982

Wharton E R Etyma Graeca an etymological lexicon of classical Greek Rivingtons 1890

White J B The Edge of Meaning University of Chicago Press 2003

Winkler K The Cambridge Companion to Berkeley Cambridge University Press 2005

Wittgenstein L Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus Routledge 2013

144


145


146


147


BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MAJOR WORKS ON MYSTICISM

1588 ndash St Teresa of Avilarsquos Works 1702 ndash St John of the Crossrsquo Works 1754 ndash G B Scaramellirsquos A Handbook of Mystical

Theology 1767 ndash Benedict XIVrsquos Heroic Virtue 1876 ndash Augustine Bakerrsquos Holy Wisdom 1903 ndash Arthur Devinersquos A Manual of Mystical

Theology 1910 ndash Augustin Poulainrsquos The Graces of Interior

Prayer 1917 ndash Savinien Louismetrsquos The Mystical Knowledge

of God 1922 ndash Cuthbert Butlers Western Mysticism 1926 ndash Albert Fargesrsquo Mystical Phenomena

Compared with Their Human and Diabolical Counterfeits

1930 ndash Adolphe Tanquereyrsquos The Spiritual Life 1938 ndash Reginald Garrigou-Lagrangersquos The Three Ages

of the Interior Life 1947 ndash Montague Summersrsquo The Physical Phenomena

of Mysticism 1952 ndash Herbert Thurstonrsquos The Physical Phenomena

of Mysticism 1953 ndash Joseph de Guibertrsquos The Theology of the

Spiritual Life 1976 ndash Vladimir Losskyrsquos The Mystical Theology of

the Eastern Church 1982 ndash Jordan Aumannrsquos Spiritual Theology 1989 ndash Thomas Dubayrsquos Fire Within 1993 ndash Benedict Groeschelrsquos A Still Small Voice A

Practical Guide on Reported Revelations

Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations and other notation I used in this book

I refer to Pseudo-Dionysius as Dionysius

De Mystica stands for Pseudo-Dionysius De Mystica Theologia

Mth stands for Pseudo-Dionysius De Mystica Theologia

Chapter numbering in Arabic (eg Chapter 1) refers to chapters of the present book Chapter numbering in Roman numerals (eg Chapter V) refer to chapters in Pseudo Dionysius De Mystica Theologia

ArNu Aristophanes Nubes

150


151


Michael M Nikoletseas Biographical

Michael M Nikoletseas was born in 1943 in his grandfathers watermill in the municipality of Ellinoklisia (Ελληνοκκλησιά) alias Siamari (Σιάμαρι) His stay in Androussa was only episodic The years he lived in Androussa he spent in isolation from the community Most of his adult life in Greece he lived on Evia island in the villages of Mt Dirfy In June 2014 he was denied the rights to have his grave in Androussa by the then local municipal chairman and by the Mayor

Two things left their mark on his esthetic and psychology The vast wilderness of the Kakoremma River where the watermill was located and the Turkish culture that was still present in the area

After completing his Gymnasium education in the Classics in Kalamata he continued his college graduate and postdoctoral education in the USA He has done research and has taught in American colleges and medical schools In addition to his research papers in the natural sciences he has published books in Psychology Neuroscience Mathematics Medicine as well as several books in Literature the Classics and Philosophy Here is a partial list of his books

Statistics for College Students and Researchers (2010)Behavioral and Neural Plasticity (2010)Cranial Nerves for Medical Students with clinical correlations (2010)

152


Dirfyan Elegy Poems of Passage (2010) Far Pitched Tents Poems of War (2011) Rape in Ahmetaga A sacrifice (fiction 2011) The Iliad - Twenty Centuries of Translation

(criticism 2012) The Iliad - The Male Totem (criticism 2013)Fotis (fiction 2013)Parmenides The World as Modus Cogitandi

(Philosophy 2013)Deus Absconditus - The Hidden God (Philosophy

2014)

153


154


155


Copyright copy2014 by Michael M NikoletseasISBN-13 978-1497532403ISBN-10 149753240XPublished in USAOrder from httpswwwcreatespacecom4743699

No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying and microfilm without permission in writing from the author

2



3


4


CONTENTS

PREFACE p 7







BIBLIOGRAPHY p 127

ABBREVIATIONS p 149

5


6


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155



3


4


CONTENTS

PREFACE p 7







BIBLIOGRAPHY p 127

ABBREVIATIONS p 149

5


6


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


4


CONTENTS

PREFACE p 7







BIBLIOGRAPHY p 127

ABBREVIATIONS p 149

5


6


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


CONTENTS

PREFACE p 7







BIBLIOGRAPHY p 127

ABBREVIATIONS p 149

5


6


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


6


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


PREFACE




7






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






8








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155








9





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





10





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





11





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





12





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





June 2014

13












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












14



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155



15




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155




Scholarch

PlatoΠλάτων


BC





3487ndash3398 BC


Chalcedon on the


3398-314 BC


BC


314313 -270269

BC

Crates-268264


27069-2687 BC


16




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155




Arcesilaus3165-2410

BC

Pitanecirc Aeolis


-2410 BC


Scholarch


BC

Cyrene Libya

Κυρήνη

136-1298 BC


1876ndash11009 BC


c 128-c110

Philon 1598ndash843

(last scholarch)

Larissa c 110-c 79

17



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155



Scholarch


Lycopolis Egypt




ChalcisSyria










18





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





of Isidore









19






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






93







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







94






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






95





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





96




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155




97







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







98










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










99






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






100







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







101










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










102









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155









103





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





104







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







105








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155








106















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155















107


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


















108












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












109











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155











110










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










111














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155














112











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155











113















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155















114













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155













115














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155














116


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


CHAPTER 6 EPILOGUE



117






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






118









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155









119





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155





120




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155




121






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155






122







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







123




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155




124


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


125


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


126


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


BIBLIOGRAPHY











127


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


Gruyter 1995











128











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155











129










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










130










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










131












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












132












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












133












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












134












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












135












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












136









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155









137













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155













138











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155











139










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155










140












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












141












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155












142











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155











143














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155














144


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


145


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


146


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


147
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155
















Source Wikipedia

148


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


149


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


ABBREVIATIONS







150


151







152





2014)

153


154


155


151







152





2014)

153


154


155







152





2014)

153


154


155





2014)

153


154


155


154


155


155

Parmenides in apophatic philosophy

Documents

Transcript of Parmenides in apophatic philosophy