(Eschatology of Will in the Teachings of Maximus the Confessor)

Abstract: The article investigates the will of intelligent beings in the state of deification. Amid various standpoints on presence or absence of gnomic will (γνώμη) in eschaton, the author has conducted the analysis of the act of will in the teaching of Maximus the Confessor. The problem of will has been studied in the context of eschatological views of the father, the center of which being the concept of ever-moving repose (ἀεικίνητος στάσις). The article involves the analysis of texts from Great Ethics by Aristotle and Ennead 6.8 by Plotinus, which have not been sufficiently studied by researchers in the analysis of philosophical influences of the Father of the Church. As a result of the analysis, the author brings forward an assumption about a complete absence of the gnomic will and the process of choice as such in the existence of beings after the end of the world. Acquiring a divine skill/property (ἕξις) results in deactivation of the gnomic will process at the fifth stage of the act of will – search (ζήτησις), which naturally cancels the sixth stage as well – consideration/hesitation (σκέψις). The author finishes the investigation with a critique of personalistic theories that always leave the choice process in the eschaton and subdue the nature to hypostasis assigning the former to the abstract category of a universal and service concept, and considering the latter the stimulus of being for the former leaving behind the apophatic revelation of elusive essence.

Authors: Makohon, Anatolii

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2018.11.2.3-13

Publication order reference: Anatolii Makohon, PhD student; Sumy State University, Department of Philosophy, 2, Rymskogo-Korsakova st., 40007 Sumy, Ukraine; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Source: Konštatínove listy, 2018, vol.: 11, issue: 2, pages: 3-13 (PDF file)

Keywords: MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR, ESCHATOLOGY, GNOMIC WILL, EVER-MOVING REPOSE, FREE WILL, FREE CHOICE, DEIFICATION

Language: RUSSIAN