The argument of Psellos' Chronographia / / by Anthony Kaldellis.

• Superior document: Studien und Texte zur Geistesgeschichte des Mittelalters ; Band 68
• VerfasserIn: Kaldellis, Anthony,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston ;, Koln : : Brill,, [1999]; ©1999
• Year of Publication: 1999
• Language: English
• Series: Studien und Texte zur Geistesgeschichte des Mittelalters ; Band 68.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

This book is a philosophical interpretation of Michael Psellos' Chronographia , an acknowledged masterpiece of Byzantine literature. Anthony Kaldellis argues that although the Chronographia contains a fascinating historical narrative; it is really a disguised philosophical work which, if read carefully, reveals Psellos' revolutionary views on politics and religion. Kaldellis exposes the rhetorical techniques with which Psellos veils his unorthodoxy, and demonstrates that the inner message of the text challenges the Church's supremacy over the intellectual and political life of Byzantium. Psellos consciously articulates a secular vision of Imperial politics, and seeks to liberate philosophy from the constraints of Christian theology. The analysis is lucid and should be accessible to anyone with a general knowledge of Byzantine civilization. It should interest all who study the history of ancient and medieval philosophy.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / Anthony Kaldellis -- Acknowledgments / Anthony Kaldellis -- Introduction / Anthony Kaldellis -- 1. Êthos and History / Anthony Kaldellis -- 2. The Delusions of Romanos III / Anthony Kaldellis -- 3. Egrêgorsis : An Awakening to Human Affairs / Anthony Kaldellis -- 4. Philosophy and Philology / Anthony Kaldellis -- 5. A Wicked Doctrine / Anthony Kaldellis -- 6. Imperial Askêsis / Anthony Kaldellis -- 7. The Secrets of the Virgin / Anthony Kaldellis -- 8. An Impious Doctrine / Anthony Kaldellis -- 9. The Secular Imperium / Anthony Kaldellis -- 10. The Repudiation of Monasticism / Anthony Kaldellis -- 11. The Liberation of Philosophy from Christianity / Anthony Kaldellis -- 12. The Triumph of Nature over Faith / Anthony Kaldellis -- 13. Virtual Divine Grace / Anthony Kaldellis -- 14. The Unspeakable Mysteries of Providence / Anthony Kaldellis -- 15. Providence: Pietism or Prudence? / Anthony Kaldellis -- 16. The Degeneracy of the Official Religion / Anthony Kaldellis -- 17. Patron of Blasphemers / Anthony Kaldellis -- 18. Psellos' Enigmatic Confession of Faith / Anthony Kaldellis -- 19. Philosophy and Rhetoric / Anthony Kaldellis -- 20. The True Nature of Rhetoric / Anthony Kaldellis -- 21. A Rhetorical Performance / Anthony Kaldellis -- 22. The Redemption of Rhetoric / Anthony Kaldellis -- 23. Political Philosophy and the Rehabilitation of the Body / Anthony Kaldellis -- 24. Psellos and Isaac Komnenos / Anthony Kaldellis -- 25. Philosophy and the Throne / Anthony Kaldellis -- 26. Who is the Author of the Chronographia ? / Anthony Kaldellis -- Bibliography / Anthony Kaldellis -- Index of Passages / Anthony Kaldellis -- General Index / Anthony Kaldellis -- Studien und Texte zur Geistesgeschichte des Mittelalters / Anthony Kaldellis.