RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Beyond the Principle of Non-Contradiction: Damascius on the Ineffable
A1 Pitteloud, Luca
AB For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal ( peritropê ) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that the first principle lies beyond the PNC but does not involve an infinity of first principles.
PB De Gruyter
SN 2196-5102
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/80915
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/80915
LA eng
NO RHIZOMATA, 2023, 10, 2, 307-338
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 12-ene-2026