Soul, Spirit and Body in the Anthropology of Abraham Pozov in the Context of Patristic Teaching

Modern Orthodox theology is undergoing a process of systematization and critical examination of the religious and philosophical experience of the last century. Researchers are increasingly paying attention to the works of the Orthodox philosopher Abraham Samuilovich Pozov. His anthropological concept, representing one of the first attempts to combine theological and scientific knowledge of humanity, is of particular interest. This article focuses on a critical examination of Pozov’s anthropological views in relation to their consistency with the rhetoric of the Church Fathers concerning humanity – its soul, spirit, and body. The soul, spirit, and body in the writings of the XX century Russian foreign philosopher are elements of the human trimeria, which also allows him to attribute the doctrine to trinitarian concepts about the human dispensation. He frequently cites the thoughts of the Church Fathers, attempting in part to generalize them and present them as a kind of universal formula. To a large extent, such a theoretical and methodological system deviates from classical Orthodox theology. Therefore, this study examines the nature of the interpretation of Patristic ideas in Abraham Pozov’s works, evaluating both the strengths and weaknesses of his concept. It must be noted, however, that despite the significant use of Patristic narratives, including the works of St. Maximus the Confessor, St. Isaac the Syrian, St. John Damascene, and St. Gregory of Nyssa, Pozov’s concept does not demonstrate a deep understanding of the teachings of the Holy Fathers.