Read more
St Theodore the Studite's Defence of the Icons provides an investigation of the icon-theology of St Theodore the Studite, mainly as it is presented in his three refutations of the iconoclasts, the Antirrhetici tres adversus iconomachos. Torstein Theodor Tollefsen explores Theodore´s 'philosophy of images', namely his doctrine of images and his arguments that justify the legitimacy of images in general and of Christ in particular. Tollefsenoffers a historical, theological, and philosophical exploration of Theodore's doctrine of images and his arguments justifying the legitimacy of images and of Christ. In addition to the main elements of Theodore´s defence of the icon, like the Christological issue, the relation between image and prototype, the question ofveneration, his explanation of why we may say of an image that 'this is Christ', and his innovative thinking on the representative character of the icon, the book has an introduction that places Theodore in the history of Byzantine philosophy: he has some knowledge of traditional logical topics and is able to utilize argumentative forms in countering his iconoclast opponents. The volume also provides an appendix which shows that the making of images is somehow natural given the character ofChristianity as a religion.
List of contents
- 1: Introduction
- 2: Method and Logic in Theodore's Treatises
- 3: Circumscription
- 4: Relation
- 5: True Image or Idol of Deceit
- Appendix: Why should there be such a Thing as Christian Art at all?
- Bibliography
About the author
Torstein Theodor Tollefsen is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oslo. His research focuses on ancient philosophy and the philosophy of Late Antiquity, with particular interest in the philosophy of the Greek church fathers within at the period of 300-900. He is the author of Activity and Participation in Late Antique and Early Christian Thought (2012) and The Christocentric Cosmology of St Maximus the Confessor (2008).
Summary
Tollefsen investigates the image-doctrine of St Theodore the Studite with particular attention to his three refutations of the iconoclasts, the Antirrhetici tres adversus iconomachos.
Additional text
I am pleased to add this volume to my library in the certain knowledge that I will refer to it in future, because its thoughtful analysis and restrained conclusions challenge without offense even when his method raises questions.
Report
The book thus represents a very useful contribution to the developing scholarly appreciation of the extent and richness of Byzantine philosophical culture and thinking. Tollefsen also sheds a good deal of light on some of the key aspects of Theodore's own thinking, notably in respect of Christology and image theory. Marcus Plested, Journal of Ecclesiastical History
