Rhetoric, philosophy, and transformation in the thought of Michael Psellos
Book chapter
Champion, Michael. (2023). Rhetoric, philosophy, and transformation in the thought of Michael Psellos. In In Anagnostou-Laoutides, Eva and Parry, Ken (Ed.). Later Platonists and their heirs among Christians, Jews, and Muslims : Texts and studies in Eastern Christianity pp. 211-231 Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004527850_010
Authors | Champion, Michael |
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Editors | Anagnostou-Laoutides, Eva and Parry, Ken |
Abstract | [Extract] This chapter takes up investigation of these different modes of self-transformation by considering Psellos’ account of how rhetoric relates to philosophy. It begins by clarifying Psellos’ inclusion of rhetoric within philosophy.7 It then explores how rhetoric functions as philosophy in politics and aesthetics. Rhetoric is essential for ordering diverse legal virtues, and thus for the performance of political virtues. Psellos also sees rhetoric as part of philosophy since it excites and directs emotions and desires and can perform aesthetic judgements. Rhetoric forms a part of transformative philosophy by orienting philosophers towards the beautiful in harmonious discourse. Sublime rhetoric can also provide an impulse for philosophical transformation, both by displaying the gulf between creator and creature and by recasting ordinary events as transformative salvation history. Therefore, in Psellos’ hands, rhetoric becomes a vehicle within a soteriological framework for transformation towards godlikeness across the domains of ethics, politics, and aesthetics. |
Page range | 211-231 |
Year | 2023 |
Book title | Later Platonists and their heirs among Christians, Jews, and Muslims : Texts and studies in Eastern Christianity |
Publisher | Brill |
Place of publication | Leiden, Netherlands |
Boston, MA | |
Series | Texts and studies in Eastern Christianity ; volume 27 |
ISBN | 9789004450264 |
9789004527850 | |
ISSN | 2213-0039 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004527850_010 |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
05 Jan 2023 | |
Online | 28 Dec 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 31 Jan 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8yq2y/rhetoric-philosophy-and-transformation-in-the-thought-of-michael-psellos
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