The article deals with the concept of action (praxis) as it was expressed by the Byzantine scholar Manuel Gabalas (alias Matthew of Ephesus) in his letter 35. After an introduction of this figure and of the main philosophical debates which characterised the early-fourteenth-century Byzantium, the author focuses on the text in question, which is reproduced in Greek and in Italian translation as appendix. Gabalas probably addressed his letter 35 to Nicephorus Gregoras in the early 1330s, surely after he assumed the role of bishop in 1329. His main aim was to comment an unspecified Gregoras’ work, perhaps his commentary on Synesius’ On Dreams. In order to reach his goal, Gabalas spoke about a personal crisis and explored the Neoplatonic concept of theoria, to which he counterposed that of praxis. The result is a complex criticism of Neoplatonic accounts, which in many ways preceded some philosophical and theological arguments characterising the Palamite Controversy of the 1340s.
L’articolo tratta del concetto di azione (praxis) per come fu espresso dall’erudito bizantino Manuele Gabalas (alias Matteo di Efeso) nella sua lettera 35. Dopo una presentazione di questo personaggio e delle principali controversie filosofiche della Bisanzio di inizio XIV secolo, l’autore si concentra sul testo in questione, che è riportato in greco e in traduzione italiana in appendice. Con ogni probabilità, Gabalas inviò la sua lettera 35 a Niceforo Gregora nei primi anni trenta del Trecento; di sicuro, dopo aver assunto il ruolo di metropolita nel 1329. Il suo obbiettivo primario era quello di commentare una non meglio specificata opera di Gregora, forse il commento al trattato Sui sogni di Sinesio. A questo proposito, Gabalas racconta di una propria crisi personale e affronta il concetto neoplatonico di theoria, al quale contrappone quello di praxis. Il risultato è una complessa critica delle dottrine neoplatoniche che per molti aspetti anticipa alcuni dibattiti filosofici e teologici poi caratteristici della controversia palamita degli anni quaranta del secolo.
Monticini, F. (2019). Azione come praxis. Riflessioni su scienza e conoscenza in Manuele Gabalas. LA RIVISTA DI ENGRAMMA, 170, 83-110.
Azione come praxis. Riflessioni su scienza e conoscenza in Manuele Gabalas
Francesco Monticini
2019-01-01
Abstract
The article deals with the concept of action (praxis) as it was expressed by the Byzantine scholar Manuel Gabalas (alias Matthew of Ephesus) in his letter 35. After an introduction of this figure and of the main philosophical debates which characterised the early-fourteenth-century Byzantium, the author focuses on the text in question, which is reproduced in Greek and in Italian translation as appendix. Gabalas probably addressed his letter 35 to Nicephorus Gregoras in the early 1330s, surely after he assumed the role of bishop in 1329. His main aim was to comment an unspecified Gregoras’ work, perhaps his commentary on Synesius’ On Dreams. In order to reach his goal, Gabalas spoke about a personal crisis and explored the Neoplatonic concept of theoria, to which he counterposed that of praxis. The result is a complex criticism of Neoplatonic accounts, which in many ways preceded some philosophical and theological arguments characterising the Palamite Controversy of the 1340s.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
