Semikolennykh M.V. “He beautifully spoke of the Holy Trinity”: The Problem of Triune God in Basilios Bessarion’s In Calumniatorem Platonis. Platonic Investigations. 2024. Vol. 20. No. 1. Pp. 248-269. DOI 10.25985 ...

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Abstract

Debating over the comparative merits of Plato and Aristotle, Greek intellectuals of the xv century wondered if these ancient philosophers could become aware of some truths resembling the Christian dogmas, and, in particular, whether one could find in their writings any conceptions akin to the idea of the Holy Trinity (or at least monotheism). The article considers Basilios Bessarion’s approach to the problem in his In Calumniatorem Platonis. Throughout many pages he strives to refute his opponent, George of Trebizond, who has claimed that Aristotle was able to comprehend the Trinity through natural reason alone. There are two lines of thought in Bessarion’s reasonings: a “humanistic” one (represented mostly in the second book of the ICP) and a “scholastic” one (developed in the third book on the basis of Notata, written for Bessarion by the learned Dominican Giovanni Gatti). These two parts of the discussion are different not only in their content but also stylistically. While criticism of the “scholastic” part is directed primarily against George’s attempts to substantiate his claim with the doctrine of vestigia Trinitatis (the text here is structured according to the rules of quaestio disputata), the “humanistic” part, written in a far broader style, seeks to prove that George misinterpreted the famous fragment from Aristotle’s On Heaven (268a7–17), which he used as an argument for his claim. In doing so, Bessarion employs methods and techniques that are reminiscent of those of such humanists as Lorenzo Valla.