The Pillar and Ground of the Truth : An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters

Rating:
Summary: Sophia, Sophia...
Review: Florensky was one of Russia's greatest theologians, certainly of the past century. Prior to Russian Orthodoxy's 'frozen period' during the Soviet regime, Florensky thought was beginning to be known and studied, partly due to the twelve letters (reprinted here in English as 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth') published first in 1914, as World War I threatened and the downfall of the Czarist regime was soon upon them.

Florensky was actually from the little republics south of Russia, having been born in Azerbaijan and growing up in Georgia. He studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Moscow, and this mathematical and logical sensibility extends throughout his theological development. In the introduction, Gustafson shows the influence of the Russian Symbolist movement, with its appreciation of classical and medieval society, renewed interest and language, and mystical attributes upon Florensky.

The flow of this book, however, is not a systematic theological text as much as a series of letters written to a brother or friend (who can be understood most likely as Christ). It demonstrates artistic and poetic sensibilities. There is also a liturgical sense about it, given that Florensky had monastic leanings. 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth' draws significantly on patristics and liturgical resources.

Gustafson identifies several controlling ideas for 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth'. The first is epistemological, developed with Florensky's exacting and precise symbolic logic and mathematical skill. In particular, his idea of consubstantiality is very interesting. The second controlling idea is moral, looking at human interrelationships, and the relationship between God and humanity, which includes a fascinating idea of friendship. The third idea is ontological.

Florensky develops the idea of Sophia as being a fourth hypostasis, challenging traditional trinitarian views (of three hypostases). But for Forensky, the Sophia is more of an ontological reality than a person, more of a meaning and reason than an actual entity, so perhaps the orthodoxy recovers somewhat there.

This edition finds many mathematical, scholastic philosophical, and logical appendicies attached, including discourses on concepts of infinity and mathematical irrationality, Lewis Carroll, and even some bits on anatomy and physiology.

This is not light reading by any means, but for the dedicated theologian, it is worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Sophia, Sophia...
Review: Florensky was one of Russia's greatest theologians, certainly of the past century. Prior to Russian Orthodoxy's 'frozen period' during the Soviet regime, Florensky thought was beginning to be known and studied, partly due to the twelve letters (reprinted here in English as 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth') published first in 1914, as World War I threatened and the downfall of the Czarist regime was soon upon them.

Florensky was actually from the little republics south of Russia, having been born in Azerbaijan and growing up in Georgia. He studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Moscow, and this mathematical and logical sensibility extends throughout his theological development. In the introduction, Gustafson shows the influence of the Russian Symbolist movement, with its appreciation of classical and medieval society, renewed interest and language, and mystical attributes upon Florensky.

The flow of this book, however, is not a systematic theological text as much as a series of letters written to a brother or friend (who can be understood most likely as Christ). It demonstrates artistic and poetic sensibilities. There is also a liturgical sense about it, given that Florensky had monastic leanings. 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth' draws significantly on patristics and liturgical resources.

Gustafson identifies several controlling ideas for 'The Pillar and Ground of the Truth'. The first is epistemological, developed with Florensky's exacting and precise symbolic logic and mathematical skill. In particular, his idea of consubstantiality is very interesting. The second controlling idea is moral, looking at human interrelationships, and the relationship between God and humanity, which includes a fascinating idea of friendship. The third idea is ontological.

Florensky develops the idea of Sophia as being a fourth hypostasis, challenging traditional trinitarian views (of three hypostases). But for Forensky, the Sophia is more of an ontological reality than a person, more of a meaning and reason than an actual entity, so perhaps the orthodoxy recovers somewhat there.

This edition finds many mathematical, scholastic philosophical, and logical appendicies attached, including discourses on concepts of infinity and mathematical irrationality, Lewis Carroll, and even some bits on anatomy and physiology.

This is not light reading by any means, but for the dedicated theologian, it is worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: St Paul Florensky
Review: St Paul's martydom might not quite vindicate all his speculative theology... but somehow, in spite of everything, he was still a man of the church, something which can't be said for most of his sophiological colleagues, or for any of his ideological descendants.