Elucidation of the term “energy” in the “Philosophy of the name” of A. F. Losev

Abstract

The subject of this research is the interpretation of the term “energy” in the “Philosophy of the Name” of A. F. Losev. An attempt of philosophical comprehension of the nature of the name and word is one of the primary topics in the works of the prominent Russian philosopher. Particular interest to this topic is substantiated by Loves’s commitment to philosophically explain such perspective on the nature of the Name of God, which was introduced by the adherers of imyaslavie (onomatodoxy) during the imyaslavic disputes of the first quarter of the XX century. Using the philosophical methods, A. F. Losev attempted to reveal the exceptional and precise sense the Orthodox doctrine on the Name of God, one of paramount components of which is the Palamite theology about the energies of God. The task is set to determine the extent to which Losev's philosophical concept of onomatodoxy, and namey the understanding of the term “energy”, corresponds to the teaching of the Holy Fathers on the energy of God. The scientific novelty of this research lies in contribution to the comprehensive analysis of Losev's interpretation of the term “energy” in the context of patristic theology. This is especially relevant due to the fact that the appeal to Palamism (teaching on the energies of God) is one of the key arguments in the apologia of imyaslavie. The conclusion is drawn that proposed by Losev scheme of the Name of God, and his understanding of the term “energy” in particular, not just formally, but essentially is based on the philosophical provisions of Neo-Platonism. This is why the such system is not quite accurate interpretation of the patristic teaching on the energies of God and the Name of God.