Two Fountains Gushing Out by Nature's Impulse - Porphyry and Evagrius on Pleasure, Pain, and the Soul's Passions (Platonism and Christian Thought Workshop, Oslo, 1-3 December, 2016) (original) (raw)

Abstract

This paper explores the possible connections between Porphyry of Tyre’s philosophical ethics and the ascetical theology of Evagrius Ponticus (d. 399). I will specifically look at the theory of the soul’s passions (pathemata) as expounded by the two authors and address the question of structural similarity and/or direct influence between them. Even if the style of Evagrius is at times obscure and seemingly unsystematic, a close reading of his works reveals a highly developed theory of the passions, in which the author not only defines and classifies them, but also attempts to unveil their psychological and spiritual origins. Moreover, Evagrius goes on to reconstruct a ‚causal chain‘ linking sense-perception, pleasure, pain, memory, desire, and finally the soul’s sinful dispositions. As is well-known, Evagrius’ intense preoccupation with the nature and origin of passions stems from his interest in achieving the state of ‚impassibility‘ – apatheia, a concept best known for its central role in Stoic ethics. However, I will argue that the main source behind the Evagrian theory of passions and impassibility is not of Stoic, but of Platonic origin, and that it particularly resembles the ethical philosophy of Plotinus and Porphyry, as reflected e.g. in the Enneads, in Porphyry’s Sentences and De abstinentia. Because of the long-lasting influence the Evagrian writings exerted on Christian monastic literature, a study of their philosophical background might contribute to a better understanding of certain key concepts and ideas in Christian ascetical theory and practice.

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