The priest in light of the thought style theory: hierarchical and official descriptions

Abstract

The article considers some key diff erences between the descriptions of Christian religious leader in the texts of Late Antiquity and Early Modern time through the lens of the theory of the thought style (Denkstiel) and thought collective (Denkkollektiv) developed by L. Fleck. It is argued that both descriptions are rational and objective in terms of the two diff erent thought styles. Late Antiquity produced the hierarchical description of the priest that was related to Platonic and Aristotelian conceptions of the closed world and teleological motion. Late Platonism accentuated the role of certain persons in mediation between God and men (rulers, philosophers, priests). This thought style defi ned the position of the religious leader that allowed him to move the believers towards God and the grace of God towards men. Paradigm shift that occurred in the 17th century replaced the notions of the closed world and teleological motion with infinite space and inertial motion. These serve as a basis for the change of political and ethical programmes. These programmes (e.g. Hobbesian and Pufendorfi an) defi ned the ethical value of the action according to the laws and prescribed actions, i.e. to duties. This thought style described the priest in terms of the duties, superimposed on the duties of man and citizen. Since the thought styles and views of the word are diff erent, the descriptions made according to them should be incommensurable. For this reason, in the cases of religious leadership described in “ancient” thought style, the description should not be set aside as mere religious, but deserves special attention.

Keywords

• priest
• religious leadership
• hierarchy
• duty
• late antiquity
• early modernity
• thought style
• священник
• религиозное лидерство
• иерархия
• долг
• поздняя античность
• раннее новое время
• стиль мышления