Image and relation: Aristotle and Neoplatonism behind the Image concept

Description

The concept of the image has always held a significant place in human existence and philosophical contemplation. Beyond its artistic value, images have played a crucial role in humanity’s relationship with the divine. This connection is particularly evident in Eastern Christianity, where the veneration of images became a common practice. However, this usage also brought forth challenges, especially during Christianity’s early years, leading to the Iconoclast controversy of the eighth century. Some individuals viewed the use of images as a form of idolatry due to its roots in Greek pagan culture. Nevertheless, this controversy became an opportunity to delve deeper into the essence of the image. While theological arguments were central to the defense of images, a study of the controversy’s documents, including the arguments of prominent image defenders such as John Damascene, Nicephorus of Constantinople, and Theodore the Studite, revealed that a crucial issue lay in the different...