Cosmic Sympathy in late Platonism
Project ESP-693 financed by the Austrian Science Fund
Project description
Since 2024, Dr. Andreea-Maria Lemnaru-Espuna is the Principal Investigator of the research project "Cosmic Sympathy in late Platonism" financed by the Austrian Science Fund at the University of Vienna's Institute of Philosophy.
This project, at the intersection of Philosophy of nature, philosophy of religions and ancient philosophy, aims at analyzing the metaphysical principles, foundations, theological implications and applications (prayer, astrology, alchemy, magic, theurgy) of the late Platonic cosmological doctrine of correspondances between microcosm/macrocosm.
It focuses on 1. the cosmos conceived as a living being in relation to the World Soul 2. the status and role of nature in Neoplatonism and its implications for environmental philosophy 3. the metaphysical dimension of myth.
The project has an interest in the early-Christian concept of providence and in a comparative perspective with Asian philosophy (Daoism, buddhism), and seeks to offer a new perspective on the man-nature crisis relationship.
It closely collaborates with scholars in late Platonism worldwide, and more particularly with the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Paris, Leuven, Tuebingen, Stanford, Rome, Salerno and Oslo.
Events:
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International Conference "Cosmic Sympathy in Neoplatonism", Institute of Philosophy, University of Vienna, May 2025, organized by Dr. A. Lemnaru-Espuna and Prof. G. Karamanolis. Program here.
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International workshop "Metamorphoseon: The Mother Goddess from Antiquity to the Contemporary Age" co-organized by G. Girgenti, A. Lemnaru-Espuna, P. Colizzi and R. Egdi, Università Vita Salute San Raffaele, February 2025. Program here.
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Irmgard Männlein, University of Tuebingen. Invited guest of the project for a book presentation on Mystik und Allegorese, november 2024.
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Talk by the project's leader on "Wisdom, Mystical Knowledge and Sympathy in Iamblichus". University of Kyoto, September 2025.
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Talk by the project's leader on "Does Anything Truly Transmigrate? Neoplatonism on the soul's afterlife", Cambridge Centre for the Study of Platonism, University of Cambridge, November 2025.
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Claudia Lo Casto, University of Salerno, was an invited guest of the project to speak about "Metaphysik und Anthropologie des Freiheit und des Willens in Plotinus", December 2025.