Proclus in Byzantium

Proclus of Athens (412-418 CE) was perhaps the most influential interpreter of Plato for the Middle Ages.  His commentaries on the Timaeus, Alcibiades, Cratylus, Parmenides, and Republic, as well as his Elements of Theology, Platonic Theology, Ten Doubts Concerning Providence, On Providence and Fate, On the Existence of Evils and commentary on the first book of Euclid’s Elements of Geometry were influential throughout the Middle Ages in both the Latin West and Greek East.  This workshop is devoted to papers that address the influence of Proclus on Byzantine and Renaissance thought.

Those wishing to participate in the workshop are asked to write to Charles Barber at: [email protected].  Please do so by May 24.

Friday May 31

10:00 Introductions (Charles Barber and Stephen Gersh)

10:30 Gregory MacIsaac, "Proclus' Commentary on Euclid and Byzantine
Philosophy."

11:15 Delphine Lauritzen, “The Influence of Proclus' Hymns on John of Gaza (Sixth Century).”

12:00 Lunch Break

2:00 George Karamanolis “Michael Psellos as Reader of Proclus.”

2:45 Frederick Lauritzen, “Psellos’s Interest in Proclus: A Chronology.”

3:30 Tea Break

4:00 Michele Trizio, “Reading Proclus' Commentary on Alcibiades I in the
Greek Middle Ages.”

7:00 Dinner for Participants and Guests

Saturday June 1

10:00 Levan Gigineishvili, "Rubbing Georgian with Greek: Features of Ioane Petritsi's 12th-Century Translation of the Elements of Theology."

10:45 Joshua Robinson, "Nicholas of Methone's Commentary on the
Elements of Theology: Selected Points of Disagreement."

12:00 Lunch Break

2:00 Börje Bydén, “Hesychasm and Proclus.”

2:45 Stephen Gersh, "Plethon's Version of Fundamental Ontology and the
Challenge of Proclus."

3:30 Tea Break

4:00 Denis Robichaud, “Marsilio Ficino and Proclus’s Elements of Theology.”

4:45 Robert Goulding, “’Proclus, who lived before Theon’: Understanding
and Misunderstanding Proclus's Commentary on Euclid in the
European Renaissance.”

7:00 Dinner for Participants and Guests