Понятийна структура и лингвистична характеристика на категориално-логическите термини в Симеоновия сборник
Conceptual Structure and Linguistic Characteristics of the Categorial and Logical Terms in the Miscellany of Tzar Symeon

Summary/Abstract: The Old Bulgarian translation of the so-called Salvific Book, a Byzantine anthology from the IXth century, which has come to us in an Old Russian translation from the XIth centuary, is one of the most interesting literary sources from the time of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Along with other theological texts, it also includes more abstract content, treating the concepts of substance, nature and hypostasis according to a categorial framework. Those are excerpts of the works of St. Maximus the Confessor (Qu. 29 [426], Qu. 30 [429-430]) and of Theodor of Raithu (Qu. 29 [428]). The translation of these high examples of Christian philosophy – an interdisciplinary area between philosophy and theology (within the scope of theology) – lays the bases for the philosophical language of the Orthodox Slavonic tradition. That is why our research is also interdisciplinary. It examines the categorial and logical concepts in the abovementioned parts of the Miscellany from the viewpoint of their philosophical content, along with the transformation they are subjected to in a Christological context, and also with their linguistic form as terms. The integration of philosophical discourse in Christology makes a new emphasis which challenges the expression of aspects of the God-Man being of the Savior, unknown to Hellenic thought. Now philosophical concepts have to express the hypostatic presence of the highest Being (Substance) of God on the one hand and on the other to describe the presence of two substances (natures) in one hypostasis. That leads to a rethinking and articulation of philosophical concepts. Firstly, an ontological scheme dating back to the time of the Old Academy which is fundamental for Aristotle's teaching of the categories, was further elaborated. Instead of a dyadic (including existing in-itself and related-to) it now becomes a triadic by adding existing with-other. Secondly, the main concepts of being are put in order of increasing concretion. That is why the study of the individual existence proper to the Person has two aspects – abstract categorial and concrete existential. The research of the first of them takes into account the threefold nature of the categories as forms of being, thought and language. For that reason, the observation of the ten categories as ontological concepts is conveyed first. Then they are examined in the framework of Logic as a base for the forms of thought. The terms of genus and species hierarchy, of propositions and their relations is being examined. Finally, we study the linguistic aspect of the categories as words – their ethymology as it is represented in the Miscellany, and their word formation role for the subordinated species. The research on the concrete existential aspect of the categories demonstrates their use for constructing the individuality of the hypostasis...

• Details
• Contents