Spiritual Perception. Paradigms and Pathways

Abstract

This paper consists in evaluating the way some philosophical paradigms were understood in the light of spiritual perception as well as their impact on spiritual practices. First, I inquire therefore about the degree in which spiritual perception was engaged in the doctrine of Plotinus, a doctrine that had provided us with the necessary language for expressing notions concerning the spiritual discipline. Then I discuss the novelty of Maximus the Confessor perspective on spiritual perception, comparing it with the perspective of Isaac of Nineveh in the Syrian tradition. Finally, I talk about Gregory Palamas understanding on the senses’ role in spiritual perception and its importance for the hesychast practice in the Christian East.