Vladimir Bibikhin as an Antipalamite

  • Lucasz Leonkewich
Keywords: antipalamism, energy, essence, Gregory Palamas, philosophy, theology

Abstract

Vladimir Bibikhin may be called a modern­day antipalamite. He sharply rebukes Gregory Palamas’s theology of energy, which has had a profound influence on modern Orthodox theological thought. The Russian philosopher calls the Palamite doctrine a “theological failure,” asks why no one disputes Palamas today, and also why the God of Palamas, long ago divided in two, still remains divided into essence and energy. Emphasizing the Aristotelian concept of potential energy, he returns to the view that God is not divided, but rather exists as unmovable potential energy and as the Aristotelian Prime Mover.

Author Biography

Lucasz Leonkewich

PhD Student
The University of Warsaw, Institute of Philosophy
Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, Warszawa, Poland 00-927
e-mail: lukasz_leon@poczta.onet.pl 

References

Akindynos, Gregory. O sushchnosti i energii [On the Essense and Energy], I, 4 (“O tom, chto sushchnost’ Boga est’ Ego bytie”); II, 11 (“O tom, chto umnaia Bozhiia energiia est’ Ego sushchnost’”): PG 151, 1201 A-1205; 1220 A. Quoted in (Bibikhin 2010: 110–111, 374).

Bibikhin, Vladimir (2003). Drugoe nachalo [A new beginning]. St. Petersburg: Nauka.

Bibikhin, Vladimir (2010). Energiia [Energy]. Moscow: Institut filosofii, teologii i istorii sv. Fomy [Saint Thomas Institute of Philosophy, Theology, and History].
Published
2015-06-07
How to Cite
Leonkewich, L. (2015). Vladimir Bibikhin as an Antipalamite. Stasis, 3(1). Retrieved from https://stasisjournal.net/index.php/journal/article/view/49