Chapter 13 What Did Michael Psellos Say about Women in the 11th Century AD?
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Abstract
Michael Psellos presents many female characters in his writings and seems at first glance to argue in favor of the equality of men and women regarding their capacity to achieve virtue. A closer look at the texts, however, will show that he does not mention women engaging in theoretical activity beyond the basic knowledge of the trivium. The women portrayed seem either to be ‘only’ philanthropically active or to be trying to devote themselves directly to God. The direct devotion to God, though, cannot, according to Psellos, be a successful theoretical activity, because it is only through the sciences that investigate created nature that human beings are able to approach God theoretically. Nevertheless, Psellos also emphasizes that the philanthropic ‘approach’ to God is possible. On that ground he discusses the Neoplatonic theory of ascent but criticizes on various occasions the attempt to become apathês.