Thought

Demetrios Kydones’ primary reason for translating Latin theological works was to deal with the theological controversies of his age. From a Thomistic stance, Demetrios challenged the Neoplatonic aspects of Hesychasm. He supported the notion of God’s simplicity, turning a cold shoulder to the distinction between essence and energies, which implies a distinction between essence and existence. On the contrary, according to Palamas there is a preeternal emanation of the energies of God’s essence, constituting the Divine Wisdom or Intellect, which is divine but not God and on the other hand is also not created. The philosophical sense of this debate lies in the juxtaposition of Aristotelian metaphysics, modified according to the Scholastic teaching of transcendentals, to the Christian Neoplatonism of Palamas. From these teachings, unlike Barlaam and Ankyndinos, Demetrios inferred that it is possible to apply apodictic syllogisms in theology. He tried to retain his adherence to this stance from a Thomistic point of view. In Thomas’ doctrine he saw a means of solving the problems of Hesychasm.

According to Demetrios, Thomas offered the best method of reaching the truth. Reasoning and the use of syllogisms lay in the very essence of man. The Creator attributed an intermediary place to the human soul between the intelligible and the sensible nature. This determines a midway mode of knowledge between the immediate intuitive knowledge and the experience of the senses. That is why knowledge cannot be carried out without change. Demetrios embraced the Thomistic conception of two modes of discourse. The first takes the sense data as a starting point, proceeds to the proximate truths, and is elevated to the prime and direct principles. The other type of discourse follows the opposite flow of thought, coming from the absolutely simple being to the composite things. Thus, knowledge enables the connection of the absolute and the contingent being. This is the essence of syllogism. Therefore, the use of syllogisms is a feature of human nature. Being the best of our faculties, reason exerts the best act and contributes to our final natural end. Paradoxically, Demetrios resembles Palamas, allowing for the application of apodictic syllogism in theology, but from a Thomistic point of view.

The literary work of Demetrios had as its consequence the most radical differentiation of conceptual patterns of Eastern and Western theology.

See also: > Gregory Palamas > Prochoros Kydones > Thomism, Byzantine