Abstract
The paper examines the relation of esotericism and oblique politics in the Byzantine philosopher Michael Psellos (11th century) on the basis of Eva De Vries’ study of the letters that Psellos addressed to the statesman Leo Paraspondylos. Traditionally, the name of Psellos signifies a revival of Neoplatonism in medieval Constantinople according to researchers like Chr. Zervos in the beginning of 20th century. Contemporary researchers such as Anthony Kaldellis and Stratis Papaioannou point to a more organic than speculative theorization in Psellos’ work while another contemporary scholar, Frederick Lauritzen, undertakes a synthesis of the two approaches. In any case, as this paper supports, it would be inadequate to consider the relation of esotericism to politics without referring to the evolution of the moral standards considered in a contextualized manner.
Highlights
La carrière de Michel Psellos, philosophe et intellectuel byzantin du XIe siècle, fut une des plus tourmentées de son époque
The paper examines the relation of esotericism
on the basis of Eva De Vries' study of the letters that Psellos addressed to the statesman Leo Paraspondylos
Summary
La carrière de Michel Psellos, philosophe et intellectuel byzantin du XIe siècle, fut une des plus tourmentées de son époque. Son ascension aux postes les plus élevés de l’empire fut interrompue par des accusations suggérant son impiété. La vie monacale ne lui convenant pas, il lutta pour réussir son retour à la cour. Mais son attitude ne fut pas sans reproche au niveau moral. «Cuivre qui résonne » fut appelé par un historien de Byzance qui voyait en lui le modèle de l’anti-charité décrit par saint Paul et ceci à cause des multiples trahisons de ses amis (Karayannopoulos 1992: 511). Dans l’article qui suit, nous allons essayer de clarifier à travers des études récentes portant sur Psellos, quelques nuances de ses conceptions philosophiques, rhétoriques et politiques
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