Wisdom As Sophia: an Analysis of the Sophiologies of Three 19Th-20Th
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Wisdom as Sophia: An Analysis of the Sophiologies of Three 19th-20th Century Russian Philosopher-Theologians—Vladimir Solovyov, Pavel Florensky, and Sergius Bulgakov—Implications for Adult Learning James G. Giragosian Dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Human Development Marcie Boucouvalas, Chair Linda Morris Paul Renard Frederic Harwood March 27, 2014 Falls Church, VA Keywords: Wisdom, Sophia, Sophiology, Russian religious philosophy, Vladimir Solovyov, Pavel Florensky, Sergius Bulgakov, Adult learning, Adult education © 2014 James G. Giragosian Wisdom as Sophia: An Analysis of the Sophiologies of Three 19th-20th Century Russian Philosopher-Theologians—Vladimir Solovyov, Pavel Florensky, and Sergius Bulgakov—Implications for Adult Learning James G. Giragosian ABSTRACT This study examined the concept of “wisdom” from the perspective of “sophiology”—a current in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Russian religious philosophy—particularly as it was used in the writings of Vladimir Solovyov, Pavel Florensky, and Sergius Bulgakov. The purpose of the study was to examine how the sophiological perspective as developed in these authors could inform an understanding of “wisdom” in the field of adult learning. The nature of “wisdom” has been one of the major themes in both Eastern and Western traditions of philosophical and theological thought for thousands of years. In the mid-nineteenth century, however, the epistemological tendency to approach the world exclusively from the standpoint of observation and experiment reduced “wisdom” to nothing more than technical knowledge verified by experience. The concept/construct of wisdom, however, has been experiencing resurgence in the social sciences, including the field of adult learning. My research did not, however, find an instance in which the sophiological perspective had informed the field’s understanding of wisdom. For this reason, the perspective of sophiology and its potential contribution to adult learning offered a unique research opportunity. In this study, I sought to add another dimension to the already multi-faceted nature of wisdom in the field of adult learning. I also hoped to enhance the value of sophiological thought by demonstrating its application to a field with which it had not been previously associated. I sought to accomplish these objectives using the method of hermeneutics, an interpretive mode of inquiry with both reproductive and productive aspects. The reproductive aspect established the historical and philosophical context of the three thinkers and discussed how their sophiological texts aided an understanding of their thought as a whole, and vice versa. The productive aspect explored applications of sophiological thought to the field of adult learning. Since I was the “research instrument” for the study, I also introduced the reader to aspects of my own background and experience that prepared me for this interpretive inquiry. SAPIENTIAE NVLLA LAETITIA SINE SAPIENTIA iii Acknowledgments I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the following: Dell Services Federal Government, my employer of over 17 years, for its tuition assistance benefit; Margie, my wife, and Maggie, Mark, and Monica, my children, for their unconditional love; Rt. Rev. Constantine-Paul Michael Belisarius, my theology teacher at Regis High School in New York City, for introducing me to philosophy—the love of Sophia—in 1973, and for suggesting the topic of this dissertation almost three decades later; Dr. Linda Morris, Dr. Paul Renard, and Dr. Frederic Harwood, my committee members, for their generous and invaluable assistance and support; Dr. Marcie Boucouvalas, my advisor, my committee chair, my mentor, and my rock, for believing in me, recognizing my love for Sophia, and supporting my pursuit of Sophia in my research; and Sophia, the guide of my life. iv Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY ........................................................................ 1 Preface......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Background of the Study ............................................................................................................ 2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 4 Purpose of the Research .............................................................................................................. 4 Limitations and Delimitations of the Study ................................................................................ 4 Outline of the Study .................................................................................................................... 5 Types of Sources ......................................................................................................................... 5 Research Approach ..................................................................................................................... 5 The “Research Instrument” ......................................................................................................... 8 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER TWO: THE CONTEXT OF SOPHIOLOGY ............................................................ 12 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12 The Historical Context of Sophiology ...................................................................................... 13 Wisdom in the Jewish Scriptures .......................................................................................... 13 Wisdom in the Christian Scriptures ...................................................................................... 16 Wisdom-Related Themes in Orthodox Theology ................................................................. 19 Mary as Theotokos. ........................................................................................................... 19 The Church........................................................................................................................ 19 The Trinity. ....................................................................................................................... 20 The Incarnation. ................................................................................................................ 20 Iconography. ..................................................................................................................... 20 Cathedrals. ........................................................................................................................ 21 Wisdom in the Pistis Sophia ................................................................................................. 21 Wisdom in Ancient Greek Philosophy ................................................................................. 22 Wisdom in Augustine ........................................................................................................... 23 Wisdom in Jakob Boehme .................................................................................................... 24 Wisdom as the Eternal Feminine .......................................................................................... 25 Dante Alighieri.................................................................................................................. 26 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. .......................................................................................... 26 The Contemporary Context of Sophiology ............................................................................... 27 Russian Philosophy ............................................................................................................... 27 v The Russian Intelligentsia ..................................................................................................... 29 Predecessors of Solovyov ..................................................................................................... 30 Chaadeev. .......................................................................................................................... 30 Kireevsky. ......................................................................................................................... 31 Khomyakov. ...................................................................................................................... 32 Summary and Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER THREE: SOPHIA IN THE THOUGHT OF VLADIMIR SOLOVYOV ................. 34 Biography .................................................................................................................................. 34 Overview of Solovyov’s Philosophy ........................................................................................ 37 Metaphysics .........................................................................................................................