Iamblichus of Chalcis (c.240 – c.325 A.D.) was the last great philosopher of pagan antiquity. He based his comprehensive psychology and cosmology on a synthesis of Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle, interwoven with conceptual elements derived from Egyptian, Assyrian and possibly Indian philosophic traditions. With the Christianization of the Roman Empire most of his writings were destroyed, and his work fell into neglect for many centuries. Recent scholarship has permitted the reconstruction of Iamblichus’ views. Although couched in the technical terminology of theurgical Neoplatonism, the Iamblichean system contains ideas that are surprisingly fresh and relevant to modern debates on the nature of consciousness. Iamblichus’ position is monistic; he defines such terms as body (soma), mind or soul (psyche), spirit (pneuma) and matter (hyle) as contextually conditioned aspects of a fundamentally seamless totality. The structure of the self is seen as intrinsically divided and conflicted by virtue of the fact that the individual is simultaneously identified with a finite part and an infinite whole. Eros is the word used by Iamblichus for the dynamism imparted to life by this conflict. Each facet of the self manifests as distinctive modes of perception, volition, imagination and memory. Friction between the facets gives rise to the unique character of human consciousness. Maturation into wisdom depends on one’s navigation of the paradoxical self-schema’s consequences.

This poster is by Leonard George, Ph.D., R.Psych., Department of Psychology, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre. Email correspondence may be addressed to: [email protected] . My paper Between Eros and Anteros: The Teachings of Iamblichus is posted on my web site at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/6443 .

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