Thursday 7 July 2011

Petr Mikhaylov - The principles of argumentation in theological polemics by the Great Cappadocians


The sources of theological polemics during the second part of the IV century gives us significant example of using the wide resources of human rationality that during that time became an important point for the Christian theological discourse. The main sources for investigation are: Adversus Eunomium and De Spiritu Sancto of St Basil the Great, Orationes 27-31 and three theological epistles of St Gregory the Theologian and Contra Eunomium of St Gregory of Nyssa. The relevant field for these theological monuments are some philosophical sources, especially manuals and handbooks that were used in the ancient school; the last are attractive for the researches by the reason that they make the facts under scrutiny more clear. The concrete material for the investigation is terminological analyses of some relevant terms (for example “epinoia”, “koinai/physikai ennoiai”, “kata physin / kata thesin”) as well as theological and philosophical concepts of great theoretical character (knowledge and understanding, language and communication, semantic triangle, truth evident and truth unevident). As a final result of particular investigations I suppose to demonstrate the relevance of rational argumentation used by the Great Cappadocians in theological polemics that has not only historical significance but also saves its value till now.

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