Heaven in a Wild Flower: Ladders of Ascent and Descent in Ancient Neoplatonism

Thursday 24th April 2025
6.00 pm – 7.15 pm (BST)

In late antiquity, Ancient Greek and Roman philosophical schools evolved curricula for what we might call ‘self-transformation’ – intertwining education in the arts, mathematics, and natural sciences, on the one hand, with contemplative practices and receptivity to inspiration, on the other. This talk explores two parallel ladders of ascent in the pagan Neoplatonic schools of Alexandria and Athens c. 500 CE, each of which would exercise a significant influence in later Christian, Islamic, and Renaissance thought: the ‘scale of virtues’, and the ‘scale of divine madness’, both drawing heavily on a transformative interpretation of Plato.

Dr. Michael Griffin (D.Phil., Oxford) is Professor of Greek Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and co-editor of the Ancient Commentators on Aristotle project (Bloomsbury). His research explores aspects of ancient Greek and Roman thought and education, including logical education, virtue, and self-transformation in late antiquity. He is also a member of an interdisciplinary Platonist-Buddhist working group, and author of books and articles in ancient philosophy. More about Dr. Griffin can be found on his personal webpage at www.michaeljamesgriffin.com.

Tickets: £15 for an invitation on Zoom. Book using the link below.