From contemplation of the one to ontology of politics: geometry, existentials, and the doctrine of unanimity in Theodore Metochites’ Sententious notes, chs. 67-72

In Chs. 67-72 of his Sententious Notes Theodore Metochites developed a rather traditional Neoplatonic doctrine of the ascension towards contemplation of the One Beginning of all beings as the aim of the contemplative life to be led by philosophers and scientists (geometrists, mechanics, and architects featuring among the latter). The naming of the One Beginning as Single in its kind, goes back to Proclus’ Commentary on Plato’s Timaeus, having also some parallels with Plotinus’ Enneads (VI.9.5). It is philosophers and scientists leading the highest, i. e. contemplative way of life (according to Aristotle), who present themselves as a paragon for politicians, whose goal is to be able to reach contemplation of the One and to lead their subordinates to the same ‘place’ by calling them to virtue and unanimity. As for politicians, they live an average, ‘moderately passionate’ life, as George Pachymeres emphasized a bit earlier than Metochites. But considerable obstacles to achieving this goal are created by disagreement between people, differences in their wills and opinions, as well as inability to come to terms with each other. Exposing these viles, Metochites indirectly mentions tyranny. The disagreement comes from the fact that each individ’s soul is coloured in their own specific opinions, which the individ does not want to conform to the opinions of others. The concept of the soul’s colouring has an inherent mixed Aristotelian-Neoplatonic nature, which can be traced back to the Paraphrase of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics composed by Metochites himself. Speaking of both addressing Aristotelian traditions and emphasizing unanimity, one of the most prominent predecessors of Metochites was George Pachymeres (ca. 1242-1310), a great historian and intellectual. Deacon Agapitus (6th century) may well be named another Christian forerunner of Theodore. However, Metochites’ ontology of politics in general is of quite definite antique character, whereas he emphasizes that politics is a part of being as fundamental and all-embracing whole.