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George Scholarios (Gennadios II)

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Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy

Abstract

George Scholarios (Gennadios II) was the first patriarch of Constantinople (1454–1456) after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks. His principal interests were theological; still, he proved one of the most versatile and prolific Byzantine authors and the most fervent Byzantine Thomist and Aristotelian. An opponent to the religiously colored Platonic philosophy of the only non-Christian thinker of the Byzantine era, George Gemistos (Plethon), he combated him by means of the Christian Aristotelianism of Thomas Aquinas, whom he regarded as one of the best Christian authors that had ever existed. He also regarded Aristotle as the best philosopher and his philosophy as fully compatible with Christianity. A huge part of his literary work consists of translations, adaptations, and abridgments of scholastic writings (such as by Aquinas, Radulphus Brito, Peter of Spain, and Armandus of Bellovisu). He tried to create a synthesis of Aristotle and Aquinas and the Patristic and Byzantine theological thought.

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Demetracopoulos, J.A. (2017). George Scholarios (Gennadios II). In: Lagerlund, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1151-5_185-2

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