The Essence-Energies Distinction and the Patristic Legacy
An Antinomic Epistemological Perspective
©2026
Monographs
XXXII,
268 Pages
Series:
Contributions to Philosophical Theology, Volume 16
Summary
Since its clear formalization in the 14th century by the Orthodox theologian Gregory Palamas, the assertion of a „real“ distinction in God between essence and uncreated energies has become the major point of conflict between Western and Eastern Christian theologies, to the point that nowadays even the notorious Filioque controversy tends to be seen as a theological consequence of this problem.
The innovative approach of this book on the Palamite controversy abandons the traditional „ontological“ contraposition based on the (Eastern) defense or (Western) rejection of the aforementioned „real“ distinction, and moves to epistemological terrain, taking the logical notion of „antinomy“, in its vital connection with theological apophaticism, as the formal touchstone to discern the effective continuity (or discontinuity) between Palamas‘ thought and its patristic sources.
The innovative approach of this book on the Palamite controversy abandons the traditional „ontological“ contraposition based on the (Eastern) defense or (Western) rejection of the aforementioned „real“ distinction, and moves to epistemological terrain, taking the logical notion of „antinomy“, in its vital connection with theological apophaticism, as the formal touchstone to discern the effective continuity (or discontinuity) between Palamas‘ thought and its patristic sources.
Details
- Pages
- XXXII, 268
- Publication Year
- 2026
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9783631941683
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9783631941690
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9783631941713
- DOI
- 10.3726/b23382
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2026 (March)
- Keywords
- Maximus the Confessor The Essence-Energies Distinction And The Patristic Legacy Dogmatic Theology Greek patristics epistemology analytic theology antinomy Evagrius Ponticus Luca Benzo apophaticism essence-energy distinction Vladimir Lossky Pavel Florensky Gregory Palamas Cappadocian Fathers Pseudo-Dionysius
- Published
- Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, 2026. xxxii, 268 pp.
- Product Safety
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