Pessimism and eros of death: Identification of a philosophical and theological idea in Phonissa of Papadiamantis or about the definition of Philosophy

Phonissa is examined in the light of ancient Greek and Judeo-Christian pessimism and the co-related idea of the eros of death which isby all humans considered as the natural intentionality of life and brings the dialectic between transcendence and immanence to the surface. The pessimistic worldview seems to be then in agreement –even if unknowingly– with the pessimistic view of present life we encounter in ancient Greek and Judeo-Christian thought in general. Specifically, Phonissa, as a literary idea and contextual meaning, could even be related with similar ideas found mutatis mutandis in the Antigone of Sophocles, the philosopher Socrates and the Apostle Paul. Finally, the pessimistic worldview along with the eros of death seems also to have
influenced in Phonissa the definition of the substance of philosophy itself, as has this once been concepted by Platon and the Christian ascetic theology, i.e. as preparation of death (μελέτη θανάτου).