Georgius Gemistos Plethon(ca. 1355 – 1452/1454)

Introduction

Georgius Gemistos (Greek: Γεώργιος Πλήθων Γεμιστός; ca. 1355–1452/1454) - was a Greek Neoplatonist philosopher and scholar, one of the chief pioneers of the revival of learning in Western Europe, was a Byzantine by birth who settled at Mistra in the Peloponnesus, near the site of ancient Sparta.Basic Information:

Believed to be born in 1355, probably in Constantinople Went to study in Adrianopolis, the capital of the Ottoman Turks by 1365 Admired Plato’s works, and even changed his name to Plethon with the same meaning.Taught various subjects when he settled in Mistra Died in Mistra, Despotate(Province) of Morea around 1452 to 1454

Work as Humanist

Plethon was the author of De Differentiis, a detailed comparison between Plato and Aristotles' conceptions of God.

George Scholarios (who became Gennadius II, Patriarch of Constantinople) later defended Aristotle and convinced the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaeologus that Plethon's support for Plato amounted to heresy.

Plethon was confined to Mistra by Manuel II due to heresy, but still remained somewhat a celebrity. In Mistra he wrote pamphlets to Manuel II describing how the Empire could be reorganized according to Plato's Republic.

He also wrote Summary of the Doctrines of Zoroaster and Plato, which detailed his own pseudo-polytheistic beliefs. Knowledge of Zoroastrianism most likely came from contact with Muslim scholars. These works did not help to clear him of the charge of heresy.

De Differentiis• Comparison of Aristotle’s and Plato’s conceptions of God•Considered to be heterodoxic, or not in conformity of the standard of the Chruch

Summary• Summary of the Doctrines of Zoroaster and Plato

• This summary, titled Summary of the Doctrines of Zoroaster and Plato, affirms the existence of a pantheon of gods, with Zeus as supreme sovereign, containing within himself all being in an undivided state.

Aristotle and Plato’s Conceptions of God

Aristotlean Conception Platonic Conception

•While pure becoming (pure potential) is impossible, pure being (pure form, or pure actuality) can exist. Furthermore, if there is anything at all (and clearly there is), then there MUST be pure actuality.•Aristotle’s concept of God is pure form - actuality without potentiality.•God = “The unmoved mover” or the “uncaused cause.”The formal first cause of everything that exists in the world.

"...Plato's view is that God, the supreme sovereign, is the creator of every kind of intelligible and separate substance, and hence of our entire universe. Aristotle, on the other hand, never calls God the creator of anything whatever, but only the motive force of the universe.“ – Gemistos Pletho

Work as Humanist

Original manuscript (autograph) of the Byzantine scholar Georgios Gemistos Plethon, early 15th century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.

Work as Humanist•The Council of Florence is aimed to settle differences and attempt to solve the problem of the East-West Schism.

•George Scholarius and Bessarion

Depiction of the Council of Folrence

Work as Humanist•As a secular scholar (he is not concerned with religious subjects)Plethon was often not needed at the council.

• Instituted a school for Florentines who were interested to know more about the works of Plato, which in turn reintroduced the works of Plato in the Western world.

•Accademia Platonica in Florence via Cosmo de Medici

•Plethon is considered one of the most important influences on the Italian Renaissance. Marsilio Ficino, the Florentine humanist and the first director of the Accademia Platonica, paid Plethon the ultimate honour, calling him 'the second Plato'.

Pompeian Mosaic of a Platonic Academy

Later Life and Impact•Pletho died in Mistra in 1452, just before the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. •In 1466 some of his Italian disciples, headed by Sigismondo Malatesta, stole his remains from Mistra and interred them in the Tempio Malatestiano in Rimini, "so that the great Teacher may be among free men". •His Summary, considered the most heretical of his works, was later burned by Gennadius II and its contents lost to mankind. Many of his other works still exist in manuscript form in various European libraries.

Aerial view of Mistra Bay

Bibliographyhttp://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Medieval/GeorgiosGemistosPlethon.ht

mlBritannica Encyclopedia Eleventh Edition, 1911http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Medi/MediDebo.htm - Darius C. DeBolt Paper on De Differentiis

Prepared by:Lorenzo Mari S. BuezaIV - Cygnus