In the theory of Gnosticism by Voegelin there is a Platonic category “metaxy”, which meaning get through the Cogito in the modern theories of consciousness because it keeps the talk between soul and Transcendence going. It reveals a thought pattern that moderates the extremes in the consciousness, managing an approach I called “outside and inside the myth”. With Outside and inside the myth I mean a phrase that expresses the consciousness in-between, a main insight in Erik Voegelin`s historic thought.
Table of Contents
1. Metaxy in History and the Gnosticism (Reflextions on Erik Voegelin)
Objectives and Topics
This work explores the philosophical concept of "metaxy," or the "in-between," as a central category in Erik Voegelin's theory of consciousness. It examines how this state of permanent tension between immanence and transcendence serves as a crucial balance, contrasting it with the distortions found in Gnosticism and modern secular ideologies.
- The philosophical definition and historical roots of the Platonic category "metaxy."
- Voegelin's critique of "psychopathological" ideologies and their relation to Gnosticism.
- The role of "metaxy" in preserving the balance of consciousness and anchoring it in reality.
- A comparative analysis between Voegelin's interpretation and the views of other thinkers like Aleksei Losev.
- The diagnostic function of philosophy regarding the crisis of the modern human soul.
Excerpt from the Book
Metaxy in History and the Gnosticism (Reflextions on Erik Voegelin)
According to Eric Voegelin one of the most important subjects in history of philosophy and philosophy of history is the quest of transcendence. In addressed to Alfred Schutz correspondence Voegelin shares his disappointment to the Crisis of European Sciences where Husserl did not mention anything about the issue of transcendence, a major question of philosophy. Voegelin persuades us the vary theory of intentional consciousness is genuinely object-directed and there is not in common with the transcendence deliberation. In order to overcome “the materialistic” consciousness constituted by intentionality he introduced a central notion of his theory of consciousness, a term borrowed by Plato`s Symposium: μεταξύ (metaxy) – in-between, by which he describes the consciousness in a permanent tension between immanence and transcendence.
Voegelin found in Plato`s Symposium a paradigmatic example for philosophy of transcendence. In Plato's Symposium the philosophical Eros is represented as the middle ground between poverty and wealth, between the unsatisfied quest and the abundance of wisdom, "between the mortal and the immortal" ("… μεταξύ ἐστι θεοῦ τε καὶ θνητοῦ. "-Symposium 202e). This medium (moderate) μεταξύ is the dwelling of the philosopher between Penia and Poros, between ignorance and wisdom, in the longing for the transcendence. Following Plato, Plotinus places man between the gods and the beasts, "neither perfect, nor utterly evil".
Summary of Chapters
Metaxy in History and the Gnosticism (Reflextions on Erik Voegelin): This chapter introduces the Platonic concept of metaxy as a vital psychological and historical structure that prevents the human consciousness from falling into the extremes of Gnosticism or immanentism, while establishing the framework for the subsequent analysis of Voegelin's philosophy of history.
Keywords
Metaxy, Gnosticism, Transcendence, Immanence, Consciousness, Voegelin, Eros, Symbol, History of Philosophy, Order, Intentionality, Myth, Historiogenesis, Modernism, Ideology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the philosophical concept of "metaxy" (the in-between) as developed by Eric Voegelin, specifically focusing on its importance in maintaining a healthy tension in human consciousness between the immanent world and transcendent reality.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central fields include philosophy of consciousness, political philosophy, the history of religions, and a critical analysis of Gnosticism and modern ideological movements.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The primary aim is to show how "metaxy" functions as a guardian of order in the human soul and to demonstrate how its loss leads to ideological distortions and the dehumanization inherent in Gnostic modes of thinking.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author utilizes a hermeneutic-philosophical method, relying on anamnesis of historical experience and a comparative analysis of primary philosophical texts, notably Plato's Symposium and Voegelin's own writings.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the etymology and history of metaxy, Voegelin's critique of foundationalism, the comparison of his "metaxy" with other theories (e.g., Losev), and the diagnosis of modern, ideological crises as a form of Gnostic disturbance.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Metaxy, Gnosticism, transcendence, consciousness, order, Eros, and the critique of secular ideologies.
How does the author define the relationship between "metaxy" and Gnosticism?
The author argues that "metaxy" represents a balanced, healthy state of consciousness, whereas Gnosticism is characterized as a "psychopathological" imbalance or a detachment from the balance between immanent existence and transcendent longing.
What role does the Symposium play in Voegelin’s thought according to this text?
The Symposium is viewed as the paradigmatic example for a philosophy of transcendence, where the figure of Eros serves as a middle term of inquiry and longing, thus preventing the soul from collapsing into nihilism or total immanence.
What is the significance of the "quadrivium" in Voegelin’s philosophy?
The "quadrivium"—God, man, world, and society—constitutes the historical constants of the order of existence, and "metaxy" serves to keep the balance between these four pillars against ideological reductions.
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- Galin Penev (Autor:in), Exploring the "Metaxy" in Eric Voegelin's Gnosticism. Consciousness Between Myth and Transcendence, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1491823
