Platonism and Byzantine theology:
some remarks on the historical vision of Jean Meyendorff
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article examines Jean Meyendorff's thought concerning the specificity of Byzantine theology in relation to Platonism. The study analyzes how this Orthodox theologian, in an ecumenical context, defended Palamite doctrine against the dualist conceptions inherited from pagan Greek anthropology. The author sets out the fundamental tension between a Platonizing vision that denies the body's participation in spiritual life and the Byzantine position affirming the possibility of a real knowledge of God in the present life. The article highlights the central role of the Incarnation in this controversy: by assuming flesh, the divine Word becomes a source of life for humanity and the cosmos, making bodily sanctification possible. This reflection sheds light on the notion of the heart as the place where the divine presence is received within human materiality itself.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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