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Institute of Philosophy
Russian Academy of Sciences




  Svetlana Mesyats
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Svetlana Mesyats

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Svetlana Mesyats

Education

 

Graduate of Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI), Department of experimental and theoretical physics

 

 

Degrees

 

Ph.D. in philosophy

 

 

Ph.D. Dissertation Title

 

“Aristotle's Physics in Neoplatonism:  Proclus, Elements of Physics” (1999)

Field of Studies

Philosophy of the Western Middle and Early Modern Age 

 
Current Research Projects

Goethe's doctrine of colour and its relation to Newton's theory and the views on the nature of colour held by the ancients (Aristotle, Anonymous De coloribus). The project comprises a translation of the 'Polemical' and the 'Historic' parts of Goethe's Farbenlehre as well as publication of the 'didactic' part previously translated by the same author; also a translation of the Peripatetic treatise De coloribus and an analysis of   the factors that caused discrepancies between Goethe's theory of colour and Newton's optics, on one hand, and its agreement with the ancient doctrines, on the other.

History of the term hypostasis in Platonic and Christian traditions of the 3rd to 5th  centuries A.D. The project aims at determining whether hypostasis con be applied to describing the first principle in either tradition.

Academic Ranks

Leading Research Fellow, IPhRAS

Deputy Department Head, Department of Ancient and Mediaeval Philosophy and Science

 

Teaching and Professional Activities

Lecturer at the State Academic University for the Humanities (GAUGN)

Member of the Department of Metaphysics and Comparative Religious Studies (GAUGN)

Editor, Yearbook of the Russian-German College

Since 2010 member of the editorial board of the History of Philosophy Yearbook

University Lecture Courses

1999-2003 – “Ontology” (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

2003-2004 – “Ancient philosophy” (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

2004-2007 – “Introduction to metaphysics” (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

2007-2008 – “Neoplatonic philosophy” (Faculty of Theology, Saint Tikhon Orthodox University)

2010-2011 – “Ancient philosophy” (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

A course in classical Greek (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

A lecture course in “Neoplatonic philosophy and Christian theology”  (Doctoral Studies Centre for the Orthodox Church)

A seminar on “Metaphysics vs. philosophy” (Faculty of Philosophy, GAUGN)

 
Graduate Supervision

5 graduate projects supervised in 2005-2007:

  • “The World Soul in Plotinus”
  • “Aristotle's doctrine of time”
  • “Plotinus on matter”
  • “Plotinus and Aristotle: the debate on the nature of time”
  • “The nature of Evil in Plotinus”

Postgraduate Project Supervision

Current:

  • “Aristotle's doctine of essence: to ti en einai”
  • 2 projects supervised in 2008-2010:
  • Nadezhda Volkova. “Plotinus on the nature and the cause of Evil”
  • E. Zarutskaya. “The reception of Aristotle's theory of time in Neoplatonism”

Doctoral Supervision:

  • M. Luzin. “Body and Soul in the philosophy of Porphyry”
  • Nadezhda Volkova. “The Soul as the cause of Evil in Plotinus”

Research Projects Supported by Grants

Financial support from the Russian Foundation for the Humanities (RFH) has contributed to the completion of the following projects:

  • 1999-2000 “Ancient textbooks on physics”
  • 2002-2003 “Natural Science as Theology”
  • 2004-2005 “Proclus' Commentary on the 'Timaeus' in the context of ancient natural philosophy”

Conference Papers
  • Russian and Finnish Philosophical Symposium, organized by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Philosophical Society. Helsinki, 13-16 June 2010.
  • International TECHNE School. Theoretical foundations of Arts, Science and Technology in the Greco-Roman World, 1–10 May 2011. Panel paper on “The doctrine of colour: Newton and Goethe”.
  • XVIth International Conference on Patristic Studies, Oxford University, 8–13 August 2011. Panel paper “Does the First have a hypostasis? Some remarks towards the history of the term HYPOSTASIS in Platonic and Christian tradition of the III–IV century”.
  • Debates on Aristotle: Ancient Legacy and the Humanities [Аристотелевские чтения: античное наследие и гуманитарные науки]. All-Russian Conference organized by the Southern Federal University. Rostov-on-Don, 19-21 October 2011. Panel paper  “Goethe and Aristotle: is it possible to see the darkness?”.

Publications

  

Articles:

  • “Modern physics: a plausible myth?” In The Frontiers of Science. Moscow: IPhRAS Press 1999 [«Современная физика – правдоподобный миф?» // Границы науки, Москва, ИФ РАН: 1999].
  • “Aristotelian physics in the Athens school of Neoplatonism.” In Philosophy of Nature. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2000, 274-300 ["Аристотелевская физика в афинской школе неоплатонизма» // Философия природы, М., Прогресс-Традиция: 2000, с. 274-300].
  • “The debate on aether in antiquity.” In Natural Philosophy in Antiquity and Middle Age. Moscow: IphRAS Press 2002 [«Дискуссии об эфире в античности» // Философия природы в Античности и в Средние века, М., ИФ РАН: 2002].
  • “An introduction to commentary.” In History of Philosophy Yearbook 2000. Moscow: Nauka 2002, 5-26 [«Введение в комментарий» // Историко-философский ежегодник за 2000, М., Наука: 2002, стр.5-26].
  • “The absolute in ancient philosophy.” In History of Philosophy Yearbook 2003. Moscow: Nauka 2004, 5-24 [«Абсолют в античной философии» // Историко-философский ежегодник за 2003. М.: Наука, 2004, стр.5-24].
  • “Aristotle's treatise On memory and reminiscence.” In Cosmos and the Soul. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2005, 391-419 [«Трактат Аристотеля О памяти и припоминании» // Космос и Душа. М.: Прогресс-Традиция, 2005, стр. 391-419].
  • “Transformation of the ancient understanding of the Absolute in Christian theology of the 4th century.” In Cosmos and the Soul. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2005, 823-858 [«Трансформация античного понимания Абсолюта в христианском богословии IV в.» // Космос и Душа  М.: Прогресс-Традиция, 2005, стр. 823-858].
  • “Structure and main principles of a philosophical commentary.” In Genres and Forms in Written Culture of the Middle Age. Moscow: Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences Press 2005, 6-22 [«Композиция и основные принципы философского комментария» // Жанры и формы в письменной культуре Средневековья. М.: ИМЛИ РАН, 2005, стр. 6-22].
  • “On particular 'essences' in Ammonius of Alexandria.” In Herald of Theology 5-6. Moscow: Moscow Theological Academy Press 2006, 670-680 [«К вопросу о частных сущностях у Аммония Александрийского» // Богословский вестник № 5-6. Издательство  МДА, 2006, стр. 670-680].
  • “The problem of consciousness and personality in the philosophy of Plotinus.” In Papers Delivered at the 16th Annual Conference on Theology at Saint Tikhon Orthodox University. Moscow 2006, 60-68 [«Проблема сознания и личности в философии Плотина» // Сборник докладов XVI ежегодной богословской конференции ПСТГУ.  М., 2006, стр. 60-68].
  • “Proclus.” In Lexicon of History, V-VIII centuries A.D. Moscow: Nauka 2006 [«Прокл» // Исторический лексикон V-XIII вв. М.: Наука, 2006].
  • “The concept of θεολογια in ancient philosophy.” In Almanac of Philosophy and Religion. Moscow 2007, 228-246 [«Понятие θεολογια в античной философии // Альманах Философия и религия. М., 2007. С. 228–246].
  • “The problem of first principle in Neoplatonism and Iamblichus' doctrine of the two Ones.” In  Herald of the Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities. Saint-Petersburg 2007, 81-91 [«Проблема начала в неоплатонизме и учение Ямвлиха о двух Единых» // Вестник РХГА. СПб. 2007, стр. 81-91].
  • “Reading of a philosophical text.” In SCHOLE Inquiries in Ancient Philosophy and Classical Tradition Vol. I, pt. 2. Novosibirsk 2007 [«Чтение философского текста» // SCOLH. Философское антиковедение и классическая традиция т. 1, вып 2. Новосибирск, 2007].
  • “The Divine Iamblichus: landmarks of his earthly path.” In Almanac of Intellectual History 22. Moscow: URSS 2008 [«Божественный Ямвлих: вехи земного пути» // Альманах Интеллектуальной истории 22. М.: УРСС, 2008].
  • A review of B.R. Suchla. Dionysius Areopagita: Leben - Werk - Wirkung. Freiburg. Basel. Wien: Herder, 2008. In Herald of the Saint Tikhon Orthodox University I: 10 (26). Moscow 2009, 102-111 [Вестник ПСТГУ I: 10 (26), М. 2009, стр. 102-111].
  • “The doctrine of henads: Proclus, Syrianus, Iamblichus.” In Dialogue with Time. Moscow: Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences Press 2009, 1-28 [«Учение о генадах: Прокл, Сириан, Ямвлих» // Диалог со временем, М. ИВИ РАН: 2009, стр. 1-28].
  • “Principles of Proclus' metaphysics.” In ARCHE. Proceedings of the Seminar on Cultural Studies, V. Moscow: Russian State University for the Humanities Press 2009, 203-235 [«Начала метафизики Прокла» // АРХЭ. Труды культурологического семинара. Вып. 5, М.: РГГУ, 2009, стр. 203-235].
  • “Plato's doctrine of ideas-numbers.” In Cosmos and the Soul II. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2010 [«Учение Платона об идеях-числах» // Космос и Душа II. М.: Прогресс-Традиция, 2010].
  • “The problem of transcendent principle in Neoplatonism and the doctrine of henads.” In History of Philosophy Yearbook 2009. Moscow 2010, 33-60 [Проблема трансцендентного начала в неоплатонизме и учение о генадах // Историко-философский ежегодник 2009. М. 2010. С. 33-60].
  • “The doctrine of henads: Proclus, Syrianus, Iamblichus.” In Intellectual Traditions in Antiquity and Middle Age. Moscow: Krug 2010, 42-68 [Учение о генадах: Прокл, Сириан, Ямвлих // Интеллектуальные традиции античности и средних веков. М.: Круг, 2010. С. 42-68].
  • “Plato's doctrine of ideas-numbers.” In Cosmos and the Soul II: The Doctrine of Nature and Thinking in Antiquity, Middle and Modern Age. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2010, 29-82 [Учение Платона об идеях-числах // Космос и Душа (Вып. 2): Учение о природе и мышлении в античности, средние века и новое время. М.: Прогресс-Традиция, 2010. С. 29-82].
  • “Platonic concept of discursive knowledge.” In Journal of Philosophy 1 (6), Moscow: IPhRAS Press 2011 [Платоновская концепция дискурсивного знания // Философский журнал № 1 (6), М.: ИФ РАН, 2011].

Encyclopaedic Articles:

  • “Nature”, “Aether”, “Theophrastus of Eresos”, “Strato of Lampsacus.” In The Encyclopaedia of Philosophy in 4 volumes [Философская энциклопедия в 4-х томах]
  • “Demiurge”, “Natural theology”, “Hypostasis.” In The Orthodox Encyclopaedia [Православная энциклопедия]
  • “Ammonius Hermiae”, “Anatolius”, “Anamnesis”, “Good”, “Henads”, “Demiurge”, “Motion”, “Xenarchus of Seleucia”, “Moderatus of Gades”, “Porphyry”, “Nature”, “Proclus”, “Syrianus”, “Theophrastus”, “Aether”, “Iamblichus.” In The Encyclopaedic Lexicon of Ancient Philosophy. Moscow: Progress-Tradition 2008 [Энциклопедический словарь «Античная философия», М.: Прогресс-Традиция, 2008]

Translations:

Forthcoming:

  • Proclus Commentary on the Timaeus Book I, translated with an introduction and commentary by Svetlana Messiats. Moscow: Greek and Latin Cabinet 2011 [Прокл. Комментарий к «Тимею». Книга I.// Перевод, предисловие, примечания С. Месяц. М.: ГЛК, 2011. (17,3 п.л.)].
  • “Nicholas of Cues.” In Great Russian Encyclopedia. Moscow: Nauka 2012 [Николай Кузанский // Большая Российская энциклопедия. М.: Наука, 2012].
  • “Natural philosophy.” In Great Russian Encyclopedia. Moscow: Nauka …. [Философия природы // Большая Российская энциклопедия. М.: Наука, …].
  • “Iamblichus’ exegesis of “Parmenides” hypotheses and his doctrine of divine henads.” In Iamblichus. His Sources and Influence, edd. E. Afonasin, J. Dillon. J. Finamore. Leiden: Brill ….

Е-mail

  messiats@mail.ru
 
Institute of Philosophy
Russian Academy of Sciences
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