mania
(μανια)
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| (Language: Greek) |
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| Short Description: |
madness, frenzy |
| Long Description: |
madness, frenzy; the state of frenzy is connected with the psychic state called entheos, ‘within is a god’; being possessed by a god means a loss of one’s understanding ( nous); the god Dionysus is the Frenzied One, therefore some kind of enthusiam, madness and inspiration is related to the prophecy and mystical experience; Plato distinguishes the prophetic mania of Apollo from the telestic mania of Dionysus, adding two other types of mania – the poetic and erotic or philosophical enthusiasm ( Phaedr.244a-245a); the philosopher is the erotic madman, but he divine erotic madness and divine sophrosune (temperance, virtue, prudence) are to be united in the successful experience of love wich elevates through anamnesis towards the divine realm. |
| Example(s): |
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| Source(s): |
The Golden Chain: An Anthology of Platonic and Pythagorean Philosophy, by Dr. Algis Uždavinys |
| Notes & References: |
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