Misplaced Pages

#304695

35-457: The text covers a vast gamut of philosophical topics in the vast spectrum of classical Judaism's outlook on the world. These topics include the purpose of creation, the Creator, human responsibility, the spiritual realms, providence, Israel and the nations, astrology, the human soul, theurgy , prophecy, the study of Torah, prayer, and the function of mitzvah observance. All these are brought in

70-418: A History of Philosophy ( Philosophos Historia ) with vitae of philosophers that included a life of his teacher, Plotinus. His life of Plato from book iv exists only in quotes by Cyril of Alexandria . His book Vita Pythagorae on the life of Pythagoras is not to be confused with the book of the same name by Iamblichus . His commentary on Ptolemy's Harmonics ( Eis ta Harmonika Ptolemaiou hypomnēma )

105-461: A clear flowing structure that builds on previous topics. The text systematizes the basic principles of Jewish belief regarding the existence of God , God's purpose in creation , and the logical consequence of other concepts in Judaism. The reader is led from thought to idea, from idea to a logical whole of the structure of Jewish belief. One of its core assertions is that man was created for

140-451: A person. The main feat of Esoteric Christianity is to learn the mysteries of God (see Raziel ) and to rise to higher consciousness in the understanding of God's relationship to individual consciousness. Theurgy, in the esoteric tradition, uses this knowledge to heighten one's own spiritual nature. Some branches of Esoteric Christianity hold that if an Esoteric Christian, Rosicrucian , or Theosopher practices it they could potentially rise to

175-431: A popular hymn to the sun. In his theology, Helios , the sun, was the ideal example of the perfection of the gods and light, a symbol of divine emanation. He also held the mother goddess Cybele in high esteem. Julian favored ritual theurgy, with an emphasis on sacrifice and prayer . He was heavily influenced by Iamblichus ' ideas. Esoteric Christianity accepts theurgy as a tradition that could greatly benefit

210-540: A very short work often considered to be a commentary on Aristotle 's Categories , hence the title. According to Barnes 2003 , however, the correct title is simply Introduction (Εἰσαγωγή Isagoge ), and the book is an introduction not to the Categories in particular, but to logic in general, comprising as it does the theories of predication, definition, and proof. The Introduction describes how qualities attributed to things may be classified, famously breaking down

245-443: Is a series of rituals and operations aimed at recovering the transcendent essence by retracing the divine 'signatures' through the layers of being. Education is important for comprehending the scheme of things as presented by Aristotle, Plato, and Pythagoras. The theurgist works 'like with like': at the material level, with physical symbols; at the higher level, with mental and purely spiritual practices. Starting with correspondences of

280-436: Is also known as an opponent of Christianity and defender of Paganism ; his precise contribution to the philosophical approach to traditional religion may be discovered in the fragments of Philosophy from Oracles (Περὶ τῆς ἐκ λογίων φιλοσοφίας; De Philosophia ex Oraculis Haurienda ), which was originally three books in length. There is debate as to whether it was written in his youth (as Eunapius reports ) or closer in time to

315-748: Is an important source for the history of ancient harmonic theory. Porphyry also wrote about Homer . Apart from several lost texts known only from quotations by other authors, two texts survive at least in large parts: the Homeric Questions ( Homēriká zētḗmata , largely a philological comment on the Iliad and Odyssey ) and On the Cave of the Nymphs in the Odyssey ( Peri tou en Odysseia tōn nymphōn antrou ). Porphyry's commentary on Euclid 's Elements

350-427: Is dedicated to the defense of mystic theurgic divine possession against the critiques of Porphyry. French philosopher Pierre Hadot maintains that for Porphyry, spiritual exercises are an essential part of spiritual development. Porphyry was, like Pythagoras , an advocate of vegetarianism on spiritual and ethical grounds. These two philosophers are perhaps the most famous vegetarians of classical antiquity. He wrote

385-761: Is known of his life, and the date of his death is uncertain. Porphyry is best known for his contributions to philosophy. Apart from writing the Aids to the Study of the Intelligibles (Ἀφορμαὶ πρὸς τὰ νοητά; Sententiae ad Intelligibilia Ducentes ), a basic summary of Neoplatonism, he is especially appreciated for his Introduction to Categories ( Introductio in Praedicamenta or Isagoge et in Aristotelis Categorias Commentarium ),

SECTION 10

#1732781130305

420-400: Is one of two major branches of the magical arts, the other being practical magic or thaumaturgy . Theurgy describes the ritual practices associated with the invocation or evocation of the presence of one or more deities , especially with the goal of achieving henosis (uniting with the divine) and perfecting oneself. Theurgy means "divine working". The first recorded use of

455-514: The On Abstinence from Animal Food (Περὶ ἀποχῆς ἐμψύχων; De Abstinentia ab Esu Animalium ), advocating against the consumption of animals, and he is cited with approval in vegetarian literature up to the present day. He believed that everything was created for mutual advantage, and vegetarianism was a way to preserve universal harmony of nature. Porphyry also wrote widely on music theory , astrology , religion, and philosophy. He produced

490-646: The "Porphyrian Tree" is noted as the first proper commentary made on Aristotle's work. The Introduction was translated into Arabic by Abd-Allāh ibn al-Muqaffaʿ from a Syriac version. With the Arabicized name Isāghūjī (إيساغوجي) it long remained the standard introductory logic text in the Muslim world and influenced the study of theology, philosophy, grammar, and jurisprudence. Besides the adaptations and epitomes of this work, many independent works on logic by Muslim philosophers have been entitled Isāghūjī. Porphyry

525-505: The 5th-century ecclesiastical historian Socrates of Constantinople assert that Porphyry was once a Christian. It is said, however, that while Porphyry did engage with Christianity, he did not believe it. Augustine made comments to Porphyry as he said he was the "most learned of the philosophers, as the most bitter enemy of the Christians". Porphyry was opposed to the theurgy of his disciple Iamblichus . Much of Iamblichus' mysteries

560-471: The Christians (Κατὰ Χριστιανῶν; Adversus Christianos ) which consisted of fifteen books. Some thirty Christian apologists, such as Methodius , Eusebius , Apollinaris , Augustine , Jerome , etc., responded to his challenge. In fact, everything known about Porphyry's arguments is found in these refutations, largely because Theodosius II ordered every copy burned in AD 435 and again in 448. Augustine and

595-434: The degree of Magus or Adept after a certain level of spiritual attainment. In a traditional and magical sense, theurgy is seen as the opposite of Goetia , even though many argue that they overlap. John Milbank , founder of radical orthodoxy , asserts that theology "encourages a theurgy which aims at a liberation of nature from terror and distress and at a fully harmonious and beautiful interaction between humans and

630-520: The divine in matter, the theurgist eventually reaches the level where the soul's inner divinity unites with the One. The Emperor Julian (332-363) embraced neoplatonic philosophy and worked to replace Christianity with a version of neoplatonic paganism . Because of his untimely death and the hold mainstream Christianity had over the empire at the time, this was ultimately unsuccessful, but he did produce several works of philosophy and theology , including

665-547: The divine light alone. Theurgy in this hermetic sense stresses the need for the individual to separate and analyze the individual components that constitute everyday consciousness and reunite them in a way that changes one's personal awareness into a state that understands and partakes in spiritual grace. Porphyry (philosopher) This is an accepted version of this page Porphyry of Tyre ( / ˈ p ɔːr f ɪr i / ; Koinē Greek : Πορφύριος , romanized:  Porphýrios ; c.  234 – c.  AD 305 )

700-762: The doctrine of the categories of being interpreted in terms of entities (in later philosophy, " universal "). Boethius ' Isagoge , a Latin translation of Porphyry's Introduction , became a standard medieval textbook in European schools and universities, which set the stage for medieval philosophical-theological developments of logic and the problem of universals . In medieval textbooks, the all-important Arbor porphyriana ("Porphyrian Tree") illustrates his logical classification of substance. To this day, taxonomy benefits from concepts in Porphyry's Tree, in classifying living organisms (see cladistics ). Porphyry's invention of

735-552: The emanations are as follows: Plotinus urged contemplations for those who wished to perform theurgy, the goal of which was to reunite with the Divine (called henosis ). Therefore, his school resembles a school of meditation or contemplation . Iamblichus , a student of Anatolius and Porphyry (the latter himself was a student of Plotinus ), taught a more ritualized method of theurgy that involved invocation and religious, as well as magical, ritual. Iamblichus believed theurgy

SECTION 20

#1732781130305

770-532: The general basis of all existence, God's Divine Providence and interface with Creation, prophecy and the Human soul, and practical religious observance. This philosophy -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Kabbalah -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Theurgy Theurgy ( / ˈ θ iː ɜːr dʒ i / ; from Greek θεουργία theourgía ), also known as divine magic ,

805-583: The meantime) together with a biography of his teacher. Iamblichus is mentioned in ancient Neoplatonic writings as his disciple, but this is most likely only meant to indicate that he was the dominant figure in the next generation of philosophers succeeding him. The two men differed publicly on the issue of theurgy . In his later years, he married Marcella, a widow with seven children and a student of philosophy. There are around sixty works connected to Porphyry's name, some in fragments or lost. Some pieces of his work are still being reconstructed today. Little more

840-672: The natural world". He continues by stating that theology equally "encourages a theurgy which is a social work of maximising democratic participation and socialist sharing". Some organizations, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn , teach a type of theurgy that would help one ascend spiritually as well as understand the true nature of the self and its relation to the Divine and the Universe. This tradition holds that theurgists are usually solitary practitioners who seek

875-487: The nature of astrological fate, and other topics relevant to Greek and Roman religion in the third century. Whether this work contradicts his treatise defending vegetarianism , which also warned the philosopher to avoid animal sacrifice, is disputed among scholars. Due to Porphyry’s work being incomplete or lost, the understanding of the piece could be misconstrued. During his retirement in Sicily , Porphyry wrote Against

910-571: The persecutions of Christians under Diocletian and Galerius . Whether or not Porphyry was the pagan philosopher's opponent in Lactantius ' Divine Institutes , written at the time of the persecutions, has long been discussed. The fragments of the Philosophy from Oracles are only quoted by Christians, especially Eusebius , Theodoret , Augustine , and John Philoponus . The fragments contain oracles identifying proper sacrificial procedure,

945-462: The philosophical concept of substance into the five components genus , species , difference , property , and accident . Porphyry's discussion of accident sparked a long-running debate on the application of accident and essence . As Porphyry's most influential contribution to philosophy, the Introduction to Categories incorporated Aristotle's logic into Neoplatonism, in particular

980-400: The purpose of earning closeness to the creator by struggling against evil inclinations. Presented from a Kabbalistic perspective, yet presupposing no prior knowledge and without the use of Kabbalistic terminology, this work provides a foundation for understanding the worldview and ideas found in the throughout Jewish works on these topics. The book is organized into four main sections:

1015-399: The reputation of Plotinus , and for six years devoted himself to the practice of Neoplatonism , during which time he severely modified his diet, at one point becoming suicidal. On the advice of Plotinus he went to live in Sicily for five years to recover his mental health. On returning to Rome, he lectured on philosophy and completed an edition of the writings of Plotinus (who had died in

1050-586: The spiritual universe is regarded as a series of emanations from the One . From the One emanated the Divine Mind (Nous) and in turn from the Divine Mind emanated the World Soul (Psyche). Neoplatonists insisted that the One is absolutely transcendent and in the emanations nothing of the higher was lost or transmitted to the lower, which remained unchanged by the lower emanations. For Plotinus and Porphyry

1085-497: The term is found in the mid-second-century neoplatonist work the Chaldean Oracles (Fragment 153 des Places (Paris, 1971): 'For the theourgoí do not fall under the fate-governed herd'). The source of Western theurgy can be found in the philosophy of late neoplatonists , especially Iamblichus . Although the neoplatonists are often considered pagan polytheists , they embraced a form of monism . In late neoplatonism,

Derech Hashem - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-560: Was a Neoplatonic philosopher born in Tyre , Roman Phoenicia during Roman rule . He edited and published the Enneads , the only collection of the work of Plotinus , his teacher. He wrote original works in the Greek language on a wide variety of topics, ranging from music theory to Homer to vegetarianism . His Isagoge or Introduction , an introduction to logic and philosophy,

1155-535: Was an imitation of the gods, and in his major work, On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians , he described theurgic observance as "ritualized cosmogony " that endowed embodied souls with the divine responsibility of creating and preserving the cosmos. Iamblichus' analysis was that the transcendent cannot be grasped with mental contemplation because the transcendent is supra-rational. Theurgy

1190-660: Was born in Tyre , however, other sources report that he was born in Batanaea, present-day Syria . His parents named him Malkos or Malchus (cf. Aramaic malkā 'king'). However, he changed it to " Basileus " "King", and into his nickname "Porphyrius" "[clad] in purple" later in his life. In his work The Life of Plotinus, he refers to Aramaic as his "native tongue." Under Cassius Longinus , in Athens, he studied grammar and rhetoric, and became acquainted with Middle Platonism . In 262 he went to Rome , attracted by

1225-593: Was the standard textbook on logic throughout the Middle Ages in its Latin and Arabic translations. Porphyry was, and still is, also well-known for his anti-Christian polemics. Through works such as Philosophy from Oracles and Against the Christians (which was banned by Constantine the Great ), he was involved in a controversy with early Christians . The Suda (a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia based on many sources now lost) reports that Porphyry

#304695