The Metaphysics of Light in the Hexaemeral Literature: From Philo of Alexandria to Gregory of Nyssa (Oxford Early Christian Studies)

Description

This volume critically re-evaluates the received interpretation of the nature of light in the ancient sources. Isidoros C. Katsos contests the prevalent view in the history of optics according to which pre-modernity theorized light as subordinate to sight ('oculocentrism') by examining in depth the contrary textual evidence found in early Christian texts. It shows that, from Philo of Alexandria and Origen to Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, the Jewish-Christian commentary tradition on the hexaemeral literature (the biblical creation narrative) reflected deeply on the nature and physicality of light for the purposes of understanding the structure and purpose of material creation. Contemplation of nature allowed early Christian thinkers to conceptualize light as the explanatory principle of vision rather than subordinated to it. Contrary to the prevalent view, the hexaemeral literature necessitates a 'luminocentric' interpretation of the theory of light of Plato's Timaeus in its reception history in the context of late antique cosmology. Hexaemeral luminocentrism invites the reader of Scripture to grasp not only the sensible properties of light, but also their causal principle as the first manifestation of the divine Logos in creation. The hexaemeral metaphysics thus provides the missing ground of meaning of the early Christian language of light. Cover The Metaphysics of Light in the Hexaemeral Literature: From Philo of Alexandria to Gregory of Nyssa Copyright Acknowledgements Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction 0.1 What Do We Mean When We Speak of the ‘Metaphysics of Light’? 0.2 What This Book Aims to Achieve 0.3 Old Wine in New Skins: From Light Language to the Concept of Light 0.3.1 Boyancé’s Challenge 0.3.2 A Challenge Still Not Met 0.3.3 The Need for a Fresh Start 1: ‘From Sight to Light’: A Hexaemeral Guide for the Perplexed 1.1 The Intelligibility of Hexaemeral Light 1.2 The Oculocentric Thesis 1.3 Three Arguments for Oculocentrism in the Hexaemeral Literature 1.3.1 Sight Fantastic 1.3.2 A World with a View 1.3.3 A Christocentric Vision of Creation 1.4 Rethinking Oculocentrism 1.4.1 Narrowing down the Scope 1.4.2 Sight Is Light 1.4.3 From the Phenomenal to the Noumenal 2: The Light of the World: Hexaemeral Physics and Anti-Physics 2.1 Science at the Service of Scripture 2.2 In Defence of Hexaemeral Physics 2.2.1 Origen and His Legacy 2.2.2 Introducing Gregory’s Apology 2.2.3 Approaching Nature through the Lens of Scripture: Physics as Hermeneutics 2.3 Enter Light 2.3.1 A Look behind the Scenes: The Hexaemeral Theory of Change 2.3.2 A (Meta-)Physics of Power Causality: The Consubstantiality of Fire and Light 3: The Nature of Light: The Dawn of the First Material Form 3.1 Between Physics and Metaphysics: The ‘Immateriality’ of Light 3.1.1 Scriptural Questions 3.1.2 Philosophical Investigations 3.1.3 Cappadocian Answers 3.1.4 Hexaemeral Physics 3.1.5 Hexaemeral Hermeneutics 3.2 Going Ballistic: The Singularity of the Light Ray 3.2.1 Rectilinearity 3.2.2 Light Mechanics 3.2.3 Light Kinetics 3.2.4 The Speed of Light 3.2.5 Introducing Field Theory 3.3 The Metaxu of Light: A Metaphysical Note on the Medium 3.3.1 A Medium of Light? 3.3.2 Transparency and Brightness 3.3.3 Light Semantics as Key to Light Hermeneutics 3.4 The Metaphysics of Light: A Hermeneutical Coda 3.4.1 A Dual Aspect Interpretation 3.4.2 Back to Origen 3.4.3 Philonic Beginnings Conclusions APPENDIX A: Response to a Critic, or What Is the History of Optics Really About? APPENDIX B: What Is the Colour of Light? 1. 2. APPENDIX C: ‘Light from Light’, or What Is the Meaning of Doxa and Apaugasma? Bibliography I. Critical Editions of Ancient Works Cited II. Secondary Bibliography Index of Passages Index of Persons and Names Subject Index Glossary