Aesthetic themes in pagan and Christian Neoplatonism from Plotinus to Gregory of Nyssa Daniele Iozzia.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Iozzia, Daniele, author.

Series:

Bloomsbury classical studies monographs.

Bloomsbury Classical Studies Monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plotinus.

Gregory, of Nyssa, Saint, approximately 335-approximately 394.

Gregory.

Philosophy, Ancient.

Neoplatonism.

Aesthetics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (145 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York Bloomsbury Academic 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Whilst aesthetics as a discipline did not exist before the modern age, ancient philosophers give many insights about beauty and art. In Late Antiquity Plotinus confronted the problem of beauty and the value of the arts. Plotinus' reflections have an important role in the development of the concept of the value of artistic imagination during the Renaissance and the Romantic era, but he also influenced the artistic taste of his time. Aesthetic Themes in Pagan and Christian Neoplatonism reconstructs the aesthetic philosophical views of Late Antiquity, and their relation to artistic production of the time. By examining the resonance of Plotinus' thought with contemporary artists and with Christian thinkers, including Gregory of Nyssa, the book demonstrates the importance of Plotinus' treatise On Beauty for the development of late ancient aesthetics. The Cappadocian fathers' interest in Plotinus is explored, as well as the consequent legacy of the pagan thinker's philosophy within Christian thought, such as the concept of beauty and the narration of the contemplative experience. Uniquely utilising philological and philosophical insight, as well as exploring both pagan and Christian philosophy, Aesthetic Themes in Pagan and Christian Neoplatonism represents the first comprehensive synthesis of aesthetic thought of Late Antiquity

Contents:

Rhetoric and aesthetics in Plotinus

Philosophy and culture of Gregory of Nyssa

Sculpting and painting between metaphor and didacticism

Gold and light

The paradoxes of beauty

Aesthetics and the ineffable beauty

List of illustrations

Acknowledgements

Foreward, by Maria Di Pasquale Barbanti

Preface

Introduction

1.Rhetoric and Aesthetics in Plotinus

2.Philosophy and Culture of Gregory of Nyssa

3.Sculpting and Painting between Metaphor and Didacticism

4.Gold and Light

5.The Paradoxes of Beauty

Conclusion: Aesthetics and the Ineffable Beauty

Bibliography

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index

ISBN:

9781472572332

1472572335

9781350007932

1350007935

9781474219891

1474219896

9781472572349

1472572343

OCLC:

904979253