Title

Fleeing the Stadium: Recovering the Conceptual Unity of Evagrius’ Acedia

Publication Date

1-28-2019

Abstract

The definition of acedia presents unique conceptual problems among the eight Evagrian logismoi. Its descriptions are so complex and varied as to render the concept seemingly incoherent. This article argues that the conceptual unity of acedia has been obscured by the translation of Evagrian logismoi into the ‘deadly sins’ tradition, resulting in a category error. Acedia is more properly understood, not as a psychological state or a sin, but rather as an array of demonic temptations with the unifying end‐goal of interrupting the anchoritic ideal of sustained contemplation.

Keywords

Acedia; Deadly sins;

Publication Title

The Heythrop Journal

Volume

62

Issue

1

First Page

7

Last Page

20

DOI of Published Version

10.1111/heyj.13175

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