The Philosophical Contribution of a Homo Byzantinus

The De omnifaria Doctrina of Michael Psellus (1017/1018-1078 AD)

Abstract

Michael Psellus was one of the most erudite and prolific thinkers of the Byzantine Middle Ages. His oeuvre includes historical writings, philosophical treatises and commentaries, theological writings, poems, speeches, legal, geographical, military, and medical works as well as works on music. Psellus taught all branches of philosophy, by closely reading and commenting on the works of ancient philosophers, and especially on Aristotle's logical treatises. At the same time he had a strong preference for Plato and the Neoplatonists, and especially for Proclus, whom he considered an authority among ancient authors. In this paper I will present the De omnifaria doctrina, a treatise which deals with various issues, such as Philosophy, Theology, Psychology, Ethics, Metaphysic, Biology, Cosmology, etc. The author attempts to present a worldview through the prism of Christian Theology and Ethics. Although Psellus depends on the scientific tradition, i.e. philosophy and theology, of both Classical and Late Antiquity, the De omnifaria doctrina constitutes an original work. A second feature by which one can speak of originality in De omnifaria doctrina is how to address the content: the Byzantine polygraph scientifically demonstrates a solvent and precise knowledge in his understanding of that. Lastly, the paper will attempt to present a synthesis of both science and philosophy in 11th century Byzantium.