id	author	title	date	pages	extension	mime	words	sentence	flesch	summary	cache	txt
grbs-15903	Krulak, Todd	Philosophy, Ἱερατική, and the Damascian Dichotomy: Pursuing the Bacchic Ideal in the Sixth-Century Academy	2017	28	.pdf	application/pdf	10545	414	56	Plotinus is listed by Damascius as one of those for whom philosophy was most important, but recent studies have highlighted the ritualistic nature of Plotinian contemplation and the similarities between it and mystical/‘magical’ practices of the period.15 Further, it is to be noted that Porphyry was said to have admitted the value of theurgic techniques for the purification of the “spiritual” soul (anima spiritalis), which interfaces with the material realm.16 Al- though he prized hieratic rites, Proclus was no less enthusiastic about philosophy. In light of what the Life of Isidore says of ἱερατική’s preeminence in the pericosmic realm, philosophical methods of purification were confirmed by comparing them to hieratic practices and interpretations.38 As will be seen, by accenting this relationship, Damascius did not subordinate philosophy to ritual, but in- stead established the value of hieratic catharsis and affirmed ___ 254].	cache/grbs-15903.pdf	txt/grbs-15903.txt