Holy Beauty: Prolegomena to an Orthodox Philokalic Aesthetics

The philosophical and theological study of aesthetics has a long and rich history, but recent trends have focused on the beautiful at the expense of the good. Chrysostomos Stamoulis seeks to re-appropriate Orthodoxy's patristic and Byzantine past by bringing together a variety of voices and building a model for the re-appropriation of this past that is no longer defined in antithesis to the Western present.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd

The philosophical and theological exploration of aesthetics has a profound and illustrious history, dating back to Plato's identification of ultimate goodness and beauty as the eternal form. However, recent trends in aesthetic theory have placed undue emphasis on the beautiful, at the expense of the good, raising suspicions within the Orthodox Church. In response, Greek theologians have sought to elevate philokalia as a more authentic and rigorous theological discipline. By engaging a diverse range of voices, including Church fathers, contemporary poets, a Marxist political theorist, and a literary critic, Chrysostomos Stamoulis constructs a model for re-appropriating Orthodoxy's patristic and Byzantine heritage, which is no longer defined in opposition to the Western present. Stamoulis' proposed approach encourages us to perceive the world anew, infused with divinity, if only we have the courage to raise our gaze and behold it. Dismantling the false dichotomy between philokalia and aesthetics is the first step towards this transformative endeavor.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780227178133