Monday, June 19, 2017
Hylomorphism
The word is a 19th-century term formed from the Greek words ὕλη hyle, "wood, matter" and μορφή, morphē, "form."
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Daemon - J. Morisson's grave
James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet, best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors. Due to his poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, wild personality, performances, and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his life and early death, Morrison is regarded by both music critics and fans as one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock music history. Morrison was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, In the early-1990s, Morrison's father, after a consultation with E. Nicholas Genovese, Professor of Classics and Humanities, San Diego State University, placed a flat stone on the grave. The bronze plaque thereon bears the Greek inscription: ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΑ ΕΑΥΤΟΥ, literally meaning "according to his own daemon, i.e., guiding spirit," to convey the sentiment "True to Himself."
In the ancient Greek religion, daimon designates not a specific class of divine beings, but a peculiar mode of activity: it is an occult power that drives humans forward or acts against them: since daimon is the veiled countenance of divine activity, every deity can act as daimon; a special knowledge of daimones is claimed by Pythagoreans; for Plato, daimon, is a spiritual being who watches over each individual, and is tantamount to a higher self, or an angel; whereas Plato is called ‘divine’ by Neoplatonists, Aristotle is regarded as daimonios, meaning ‘an intermediary to deities' – therefore Aristotle stands to Plato as an angel to a deity; for Proclus, daimones are the intermediary beings located between the celestial objects and the terrestrial inhabitants.
J
Friday, June 16, 2017
Mount Athos
An Orthodox spiritual centre since 1054, Mount Athos has
enjoyed an autonomous statute since Byzantine times. The 'Holy Mountain', which
is forbidden to women and children, is also a recognized artistic site. The
layout of the monasteries (about 20 of which are presently inhabited by some
1,400 monks) had an influence as far afield as Russia, and its school of
painting influenced the history of Orthodox art.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Ring of Gyges
The Ring of Gyges is a mythical magical artifact mentioned by the philosopher Plato in Book 2 of his Republic (2:359a–2:360d). It granted its owner the power to become invisible at will. Through the story of the ring, Republic considers whether an intelligent person would be moral if he did not have to fear being caught and punished for doing injustices.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)