Maximus the Confessor's ‘Aeon’ as a Distinct Mode of Temporality

In this paper, I shall focus on the semantic content of αἰὼν in Maximus the Confessor's works, particularly in the instances in which he employs it as a distinct form of temporality, i.e. not as simply meaning ‘eternity’. I focus on αἰὼν as a Maximian terminus technicus in spite of the diverse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heythrop journal
Main Author: Mitralexis, Sotiris (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2022
In: Heythrop journal
Year: 2022, Volume: 63, Issue: 4, Pages: 780-795
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Maximus, Confessor, Heiliger 580-662 / Eon / Temporality
RelBib Classification:KAD Church history 500-900; early Middle Ages
NBE Anthropology
VA Philosophy
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Summary:In this paper, I shall focus on the semantic content of αἰὼν in Maximus the Confessor's works, particularly in the instances in which he employs it as a distinct form of temporality, i.e. not as simply meaning ‘eternity’. I focus on αἰὼν as a Maximian terminus technicus in spite of the diverse meanings that he himself ascribes to the word in certain cases. I will also engage with the status of time as humanity's slavery, as humanity's enemy in Maximus’ thought, for this is integrally connected with the notion of the Aeon and especially with the need to transcend both time as χρóνος and temporality in the form of the Aeon in striving for ever well-being. The greater context of this investigation is the understanding of Maximus’ conception of temporality as a threefold one, consisting of (a) time as χρóνος, the temporality of the sensible realm and the numbering of motion, (b) αἰὼν i.e. the Aeon, a ‘time without movement’ and the temporality of the intelligible creation, and (c) the transformed temporality of the ever-moving repose (στάσις ἀεικἰ νητος).
ISSN:1468-2265
Contains:Enthalten in: Heythrop journal
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/heyj.12319