Henrik Rydell Johnsén - Renunciation, guidance and confession in early monasticism and ancient philosophy

This paper concerns early monastic pedagogical patterns, and especially the pedagogical role of three important early monastic notions and practices: renunciation, spiritual guidance and confession of one's thoughts and faults. The starting point is three early monastic catalogues of virtues and vices with a progressive order (in John Cassian, Dorotheus of Gaza and John Climacus). The arrangement of these catalogues is then compared to patterns of virtues and vices in ancient philosophy (e.g. in Plutarch of Chaeronea). Similarities and differences in the arrangement and the meaning of specific notions and practices are discussed in order to address the question of the origin of these practices and their pedagogical role in early monasticism.