“It is exactly the same to know God and to be a seer of God”: Barlaam the Calabrian on the method in theology

This article examines the views of Barlaam the Calabrian on the methodology of theology and draws on his theological texts, namely the three consequent versions of the “Treatise against the Latins”, correspondence with St. Gregory Palamas, Barlaam’s works in Latin. The article raises the question about the sources and integrity of Barlaam’s position. It is shown that Barlaam took an antischolastic position and, rejecting Thomas Aquinas’ doctrine, perceived himself as a successor of St. Gregory the Theologian in his struggle agains the Eunomians. Barlaam followed St. Gregory not only in his criticism of the possibility of rational comprehension of God, but also in the positive aspects of his epistemology, i.e. the need of spiritual growth for theologian and acieving full knowledge of God after death. Rejecting the rational programme of the Latins by means of Aristotelian logic, the Calabrian borrows from St. Gregory the method of debate as well. Barlaam separates faith and knowledge, imposing on the latter the requirement of “touch” of the comprehended reality. The article discusses Barlaamian distinction of the “theologian by faith” and “theologian by knowledge”, which did not allow him to fi nd an effi cient solution to the main issue. The article also proposes a reconstruction of his views on the correlation between the capabilities of individual theologians and theology as a whole. Barlaam’s views on the impossibility of evidential theology on the model of Aristotelian science are systematised following the essential parts of the scientifi c proof, i.e. the object of reasoning, its structure, assumptions and conclusion. It is concluded that Barlaam’s views on scientifi c proof in theology correspond both to the position of Aristotle and to the patristic tradition. The article expounds on Barlaam’s views on the role of dialectics in theology and identifi es the terminological discrepancy that became a starting point in the confl ict between the Calabrian and St. Gregory Palamas. It is shown that after his conversion to Catholicism, Barlaam did not change his methodological guidelines. The article theorises about the relationship between these guidelines and his conversion