Online Lecture on «The Concept of Hamartia in Plotinus» by Suzanne Stern-Gillet
Within the framework of the Research Project “Between Athens & Alexandria. Platonism, 3rd-7th c. CE” (2022-2024) supported by the A. S. Onassis Foundation, the IMS-FORTH, in collaboration with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Center for Hellenistic Studies (ACHS), organizes a monthly online lecture series on late antique Neoplatonism (3rd-7th c. CE).
The series hosts invited talks in English or French by leading scholars in the field. Lectures take place via Zoom on Mondays or Tuesdays at 7pm Athens & Alexandria. Prior registration is required.
The topic of the 2022 talks is “Alexandrian and Athenian Neoplatonism”, with a special focus on Plotinus (204/5-270) as well as on later Neoplatonic developments on, and criticisms to, Plotinus.
All welcome!
Οn Tuesday May 3, at 19:00 (Athens time) Suzanne Stern-Gillet (Victoria University of Manchester) will give a lecture on «The Concept of Hamartia in Plotinus».
Abstract
Plotinus’ ascription of a double hamartia to the soul in tractate IV 8 [6] raises exegetical and philosophical issues which take us to the very foundations of his ethics. As a preliminary stage in the clarification of these issues, an analysis of his use of hamartia and related concepts will be undertaken. In the first part of the paper an attempt will be made to identify the sense and connotations of the concept in its different Enneadic contexts. In the second part, the use of hamartia in IV 8 [6] will be discussed in comparison with that of tolma in V I [10]. The third part will be devoted to what may be regarded as a change of mind on Plotinus’ part when in I 8 [51] he ascribes the fall of the soul to a darkening of its illumination by matter, and in I 1 [52] 12, where he goes as far as describing the soul as anamartētos in its descent.
You can register in advance to our seminar meetings using the following link.