The Research Centre for Greek and Latin Literature of the Academy of Athens would like to invite you to the lecture by Lisa Raphals (University of Edinburgh & University of California, Riverside) on ‘Moving Spirits: The Heavens in the Body and Mind-Body Dualism’.

The lecture will take place online on Thursday 12 June 2025, 09.00 New York / 14.00 London / 16.00 Athens / 21.00 Beijing.

Abstract

We all see the Heavens, albeit from different astral perspectives at different times and places.  Chinese religio-philosophical literature offers many representations of the heavens specifically within the human body, of several different kinds.  Conceptually, these include philosophical macrocosm-microcosm analogies and correlations between somatic sites and Daoist gods. There are also representations of journeys within landscapes, but within the body.  This talk contrasts spatial spirit journeys within the body to a different kind of representation of the skies within: astral calendars that govern movements of the “human spirit” (renshen 人神) within the body, their implications for medicine, and their implications for contemporary debates on mind-body dualism in Chinese and Western contexts. It also offers a brief comparison to Greek views.

To receive the ZOOM link email mkonaris@academyofathens.gr

For the series programme see here: https://www.academyofathens.gr/en/ereyna/kentra/ereyna-latinikis/kyklos-omilion-2025