Measuring divinity : Pavel Florenskij’s integral vision of the finite and the infinite

Abstract

“The building of culture is defined by the spiritual law: ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Lk 12:34). This treasure is spiritual value, that which we recognise as the objective meaning and justification of our existence.” Pavel Florenskij wrote these words in 1924 to an American audience. His firm belief was that a culture is born of any given group of people who hold some “treasure” or other to be “objective” and which would “justify” their existence. Cultures, therefore, are inherently diverse, entropic, and dependent on the space that any given people occupy at any particular point in time. The more diverse the cultures, the more diverse are the values of meaning. What brings all these cultures together is their common recognition of the need for “meaning” and a “justification of our existence.” In other words, “our personality and, therefore, all its manifestations are determined by our treasure,” continues Florenskij.1 Through this Colloquium, the Faculty of Theology continues to stretch out its hand of friendship in collaborating with other Faculties in search for this “treasure” and “justification.” The crux of this Colloquium and, so to say, the “culture” that it intends to continue promoting at our University is Integral Vision. Even though for the naked eye, the encumbered mind, Science and the Humanities might seem worlds apart; a Colloquium, a Dialogue, will bring us closer to realising that even though our languages differ, our ‘treasure’ is the same, namely, our common search for meaning and justification.