Institut of Philosophy

The article presents an overview of implementation of self-referential notions in the logical and theological texts of Byzantine scholars up to the 12th century. The commentaries on Porphyry's and Aristotle's theory of definition by John of Damascus, John Italus, and Theodore Prodromos are discussed. It is argued that the Byzantine scholars performed different original implementations of basic logical notions and discovered their self-referential property. The attention is paid to the five predicabilia notions of Porphyry and Aristotelian categories applications in logical, philosophical, and theological Byzantine texts. The authors conclude that the Byzantine solutions resemble some of the modern logical ideas of 20th century.

The dialogue “Xenedemos, or Voices” is a little-known philosophical work by Theodoros Prodromos, an outstanding 12th century Byzantine writer. The objective of the paper is to reveal, who of Byzantine intellectuals of the time could serve as prototypes of the main
protagonists of the dialogue. The historical and logical content of “Xenedemos” is analysed. It
is argued that its main character, named Theokles, encompasses crucial features of Michael
Psellos and John Italos.

«Xenedemos, or Voices» is a little-known philosophical work by Theodoros Prodromos, an outstanding Byzantine writer of the 12th c. The object of the present paper is to analyse style and structure of the dialogue, to describe its historical and cultural context, to define its
specific features. It is demonstrated, that «Xenedemos» according to all criteria belongs to the genre of «platonic dialogue», that it is an original work, which reflect new trends in the 12th c. Byzantine literature. The logical content of «Xenedemos» is analysed; as a result it becomes possible to distinguish two levels in the dialogue  — the didactical level and the analytical level. It is emphasized that the text requires a critical edition and a detailed investigation in the context of the Byzantine logic.