Moving beyond Theoria toward Theosis: The Telos of Plato's Cave and the Orthodox Icon

by Justin A. Davis

Overview

Moving Beyond Theoria Towards Theosis focuses on the telos of man as understood in Plato’s theoria, envisioned in the allegory of the cave, and early Christian reinterpretation of theoria as theosis. In his famed allegory of the cave, Plato maintains that real life exists beyond our base perceptions of reality and is found in the realm of ideas. Theoria is eternal rest in this realm and is understood as the telos of mankind. Plato’s theoria underwent change as it was reinterpreted under middle-Platonic and neo-Platonic thought. These systems incorporated a more mature idea of the divine than Plato, but still minimized the material world. This book explores how early Christianity inherited Plato’s cosmology and terminology. Theoria was also reinterpreted within the Christian context. Eventually the term was abandoned for theosis. Theosis is beyond theoria, as it includes contemplation of the forms as well as union with the source of the forms and the affirmation of the material realm. In this volume, Justin A. Davis shows how the Orthodox use of icons can be key to understanding theosis. The icon is a material object that connects to a higher reality, and ultimately toward union with the divine. Plato’s cosmology is collapsed and transfigured in union with the uncreated energy of God. Icons are the depiction of spiritual ascesis and the new telos of man, theosis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666949551
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/07/2024
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Justin A. Davis is adjunct professor in the Philosophy Department at Boise State.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Platonic Universe and the Cave

Chapter 2: Receiving Plato: Christianity and Platonic Thought

Chapter 3: A Revelation in the Icon

Chapter 4: The Telos of an Icon

Chapter 5: Iconoclasm and the Iconodules

Chapter 6: A Western Interlude: Protestant Iconoclasm

Chapter 7: A Christian Return to Plato?

Chapter 8: Treatment of Selected Icons

Chapter 9: Icons and Community

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix I: Recommended Works

Appendix II: Further Reading

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Professor Davis clearly loves to write! This author presents the reader with a impressive, wide-ranging treatment of symbolism in philosophy, in Christian dogma and in the sacred icon. This book amounts to a veritable catechism in metaphysics (especially Platonic, the ever-present temptation for theologians!) and Orthodox Christian dogma, especially as that dogma is depicted in the icon. The author’s massive scope offers the reader a firm and well-organized survey of this theme as he argues for the ultimate purpose (τέλος) of human existence; namely the transcending of intellectual theoria (the philosopher’s telos) toward divinization (theosis). This reviewer was especially grateful for Davis’ assessment of St Augustine of Hippo’s role in stunting this vision in Western intellectual and religious culture. My favorite citation: “The most persuasive philosophic proof of God’s existence is the one the textbooks never mention, the conclusion to which can perhaps best express the whole meaning: There exists the icon of the Holy Trinity by St. Andrei Rublev; therefore, God exists.”

Patrick B. O'Grady

Justin Davis masterfully traces the historical passage of the Platonists’ telos as knowledge-based theoria towards the Christian telos as relationship-based theosis. With warmth as well as scholarship, Davis progresses to show how this theosis or deification is epitomised in icons, which depict both the deifying Christ and His deified saints. He shows how symbolism as a ‘drawing together’ is best understood with this union of Creator and creation in mind. As Davis shows in his study of the various iconoclasms, ‘the destruction of icons is a denial of the telos of man. It denies transformation.’ A must-read for all who wish to understand contemporary culture and the challenges that it faces.

Aidan Hart

In Moving Beyond Theoria Towards Theosis, Justin Davis expertly explains how Plato’s philosophy, in particular his metaphysics, has been appropriated by Christian history. The conditioning of Platonism in worship and life is demonstrated through the phenomenon of the Orthodox icon, which bridges the gap between reality and appearance. Davis has done the Church an important service by rearticulating critical distinctions with nuance for this generation.

V. Rev. Stephen De Young