Cosmic Sympathy in Neoplatonism

This research proposal is concerned with a fundamental concept in the history of Western thought: the interdependence between each level of reality to put it otherwise, cosmic sympathy - and its theorization in the late antique Neplatonist philosophical tradition of thought. This doctrine of interdependence between every existing being, both living and non- living, implies a number of philosophical presuppositions and consequences in terms of human behaviour. Cosmic sympathy has been a doctrine of great importance in Western culture from early Antiquity, the Italian Renaissance, up to the ninteenth centry. This research proposal particularly raises the issues of determinism and free-wil, and lies at the intersection of several disciplines: Ancient Philosophy of Religions, Philosophy of Nature/Environmental Philosophy, History of Religions, Anthropology and Greek Classical Philology. The approach I have chosen to adopt is twofold: on the one hand, exploring the link between nature and the divine in Neoplatonic thought based on the theory of universal interdependence. And secondly, the fundamental role of feminine philosophical and religious principles in this philosophical doctrine (such as the goddess Aphrodite, who was seen as a figure of the philosophical principle of harmony, binding together all things), which have hitherto been largely ignored. This research therefore involves both philosophical and ethical issues, both in terms of man-nature relationship and of gender gap in the history of Western thought which I intend to contribute to fill through this research. During the three years of my ESPRIT fellowship, I aim to achieve 3 goals : 1) writing the foundations of a monograph devoted to the Neoplatonic philosophical doctrine of universal interdependence - or cosmic sympathy - focusing on the sacralisation of nature and on the central role of feminine philosophical and religious principles 2) organizing several symposiums devoted to this theme with my mentor, Prof. Karamanolis, in close collaboration with the departments of Religious Studies and Classical Philology of the University of Vienna 3) to take part in both national and international conferences, on a case-by-case basis.