Imitations of Infinity - Gregory of Nyssa and the Transformation of Mimesis

"In this book, Michael Motia places Gregory of Nyssa at the center of a study of the many ways in which late ancient life was governed by notions of imitation. Questions both intimate and immense, of education, childcare, or cosmology, all found form in a relationship of archetype and image. It is no wonder that these debates demanded the attentions of people at every level of the Empire, including the Christians looking to form new social habits and norms. Whatever else the late ancient transformation of the Roman Empire or Platonic philosophy affected, it changed the names, spaces, and characters that filled the imagination and common sense of its citizens, and it changed how they thought of their imitations"--

List of contents

Introduction. The Mimetic Life

Chapter 1. Two Tracks of Mimesis

Chapter 2. Crossing Tracks: Mimesis in Neoplatonism

Chapter 3. Early Christian Mimesis

Chapter 4. Mimetic Names

Chapter 5. Mimetic Spaces

Chapter 6. Mimetic Characters

Conclusion. Mimesis and Mystery

List of Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Acknowledgments

About the author

Michael Motia

Summary

In Imitations of Infinity, Michael A. Motia places Gregory of Nyssa at the center of a world filled with Platonic philosophers, rhetorical teachers, and early Christian leaders all competing over what and how to imitate. Their debates demanded the attentions of people at every level of the Roman Empire.

Product details

• Authors: Michael Motia, Michael A Motia, Michael A. Motia, Michael A. Motia Motia
• Publisher: University of pennsylvania pr
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2021
• EAN: 9780812253139
• ISBN: 978-0-8122-5313-9
• No. of pages: 288
• Series: Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion; Divinations: Rereading Late An
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works