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UID:18@prometheustrust.co.uk
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241015T194500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241015T211500
DTSTAMP:20241009T035556Z
URL:https://prometheustrust.co.uk/events/topic-tbc-open-session-online-5/
SUMMARY:Timaeus: Creation and causation - open session online
DESCRIPTION:Most people familiar with the outlines of Platonic philosophy h
 ave the broad outlines of Plato's understanding of the creation of the Cos
 mos (and a similar understanding of the so-called 'theory of forms') - tha
 t the Demiurge\, looking to an eternal pattern\, thinks the great Cosmos i
 nto existence.  Thus we have\, at its simplest\, an eternal paradigm\, a 
 Creator\, and a manifest creation.  But once we study the words of Timaeu
 s we find some tricky elements to the "likely story" that he tells: the De
 miurge\, before he begins his activity\, received everything that way visi
 ble "moving with confusion and disorder"\; and later we are introduced to 
 'Chora' some almost impossible to understand all-receiving nurse or mother
 . Suddenly a relatively easy view of the creative act becomes much more ch
 allenging.\n\nDuring our last open session we looked at Proclus' comments 
 on the three ways Forms are described as acting to produce their instantia
 tions - as a seal on wax\, as things throwing images upon a mirror\, as an
  artist painting using a model. This next session will\, perhaps\, build o
 n some of the ideas we explored then\, and widen out our perspective (alth
 ough if you didn't make that last session\, this one is still reasonable s
 elf-contained). We will look at Proclus' comments which start with the Dem
 iurge being named as "Maker and Father" in the dialogue and unfold a fourf
 old scheme of Father- Father and Maker - Maker and Father - Maker. I think
  we looked at this (in less detail) in 2022\, but the issues before us are
  always good to ponder again. Some of those challenging parts of the dialo
 gue may well become clearer using this framework.\n\nThe UK-timed session 
 (7.45pm BST) will be led by Tim Addey. Please register via zoom for the U
 K time zone session here. \n\nThe Americas timed session (7.30pm EDT)
   will be led by David Nowakowski- and Kaye Boesme. Please register via
  zoom for the Americas session here. You will automatically receive an e
 mail with the zoom link once registered.\n\nPlease download the PDF paper 
 we will be drawing from: Timaeus\n\nThese open sessions usually run twice 
 on the same day to accommodate different time zones. They take particular 
 topics or passages from Plato and other writers in the tradition - these a
 re open to anyone interested\, and they attract a wide range of participan
 ts. We usually begin with a short 5 or 10 minute introduction to the subje
 ct in hand and (when appropriate) a reading of a short text: this leaves a
  good hour or so to discuss the ideas which arise.\n\nThere are no fees pa
 yable. The Trust sees the Platonic tradition as a spiritual one: not only 
 a guide for the outer life\, but especially to be treasured for its assist
 ance in the cultivation of the inner self - the soul - for\, says Plato in
  the Timeaus\, “we are not terrestrial plants\, but blossoms of heaven.
 ” We understand the tradition to be profound and cohesive\, and one tha
 t repays the long-term effort required to truly embed oneself in it. Our 
 approach is not exclusive - we value other traditions for their insights -
  nor is it dogmatic or an attempt to proselytise: however we are serious i
 n our attempts to fathom the depths of the tradition\, to identify its fou
 ndations\, and where its teachings seem to run counter to accepted thinkin
 g to investigate them thoroughly rather than rejecting them prematurely. T
 hus our point of focus is on the teachings of the tradition and most espec
 ially our own inner response to them.\n\nBy joining our studies you are ma
 king no commitment beyond that of co-operating with us in our exploration 
 of those truths which have inspired a company of men and women most lumino
 us in their understanding\, and unsparingly generous in their teaching.
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prometheustrust.co.uk/wp-content/uploads
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CATEGORIES:Open session
LOCATION:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscuiuqD4uEtKp7X58uTszW
 7e3ZP6osn3U
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