APOKATASTASIS AFTER ORIGEN - GREGORY OF NYSSA'S CASUS

• Authors: Szczerba W.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The philosophical concept of apokatastasis means literally restoration of the primal state of things. This concept may be considered in philosophy both in cosmic categories as a reconstitution of the primordial order of cosmos and also in reference to beings, denoting then restoration of their primeval state. A good example of the latter form of the concept apokatastasis gives Stoic and Christian philosophy with reference to human and rational beings. Origen was the first Christian philosopher, who integrated the concept apokatastasis in his thought system. However controversial, the concept did not cease to exist in Christian thought after his death, regardless of the multiple condemnations addressed to it. The Cappadocian Fathers, and especially Gregory of Nyssa, are a good example of thinkers who followed Origen in his eschatological believes. It is especially important that the Cappadocians became very influential in terms of development of philosophy, theology and spirituality of the 4th and later centuries, especially with reference to the Easter Church. Gregory of Nyssa seems to be among Cappadocians the most speculative mind, striving to synthesize and systematize Christian thought. The concept of apokatastasis - universal salvation - was continued on the ground of Christian thought, however it was considerably modified, just as the philosophical-theological background change. Already in the though of Gregory of Nyssa, 100 years after Origen, apokatastasis was significantly altered, since the philosopher form Nyssa. Preexistence combined the soul with its fall, transmigration was one of the elements of divine pedagogy in the thought of Origen. Rejection of preexistence meant a necessity to accept some kind of theory of heritage of the primal sin. Rejection of transmigration led to the conclusion that human being has a very limited time to conversion or to the redefinition of the concept of expiation after death. In such situation in the concept of apokatastasis is seen an idea of amnesty, which goes together with still alive hope for the final, free and universal conversion of rational beings. Somehow the anatomy of the concept of eternal return was changed. A

Keywords

EN

APOKATASTASIS; CAPPADOCIAN FATHERS; GREGORY OF NYSSA; ORIGEN; PREEXISTENCE

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
• Journal: Analiza i Egzystencja. Czasopismo Filozoficzne
• Year: 2006
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 175-195
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Szczerba W.

• W. Szczerba, Ewangelikalna Wyzsza Szkola Teologiczna, ul. Sw. Jadwigi 12, 50-266 Wroclaw, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07PLAAAA03326867