John Italus facts for kids

John Italus (also spelled Italos) was an important Byzantine philosopher who lived in the 11th century. He was born in Calabria, a region in Italy. His father was a soldier.

John Italus moved to Constantinople, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. There, he became a student of a famous teacher named Michael Psellos. John Italus studied ancient Greek philosophy, which is about big ideas like truth and knowledge.

After Michael Psellos, John Italus took over his position as the head of the philosophy school. However, some of his ideas were seen as wrong or "heretical" by the church leaders. In 1082, he was officially condemned because his ideas clashed with the beliefs of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.

Early Life and Studies

John Italus was born in Italy, which is how he got his name. His father was an Italian soldier. When John was a child, his father was involved in a fight to help people in Sicily break free from the Byzantine emperor. So, John spent his early years in army camps, not in schools.

Later, when a Byzantine commander named George Maniaces rebelled, John's father fled back to Italy. After some time, John made his way to Constantinople. He had already learned a lot, especially about logic, which is the study of correct reasoning.

In Constantinople, John continued his studies with several teachers. His last teacher was Michael Psellos. However, John and Psellos often disagreed. People said John was very proud and liked to argue. He was described as a tall, strong man with a large head and a clear face.

Becoming a Philosopher

John Italus gained the favor of Emperor Michael VII Doukas (who ruled from 1071 to 1078). The emperor thought John's knowledge of Italy would be helpful. He sent John to Dyrrachium, a city in modern-day Albania. But the emperor soon suspected John of disloyalty.

John found out and fled to Rome. He pretended to be sorry for what he had done. This allowed him to get the emperor's permission to return to Constantinople. He settled in the Monastery Zoödochos Pege.

When his former teacher, Michael Psellos, was sent away from the capital, John Italus received an important title. He became the "Chief of the Philosophers." He was very good at logic and the philosophy of Aristotle. However, he wasn't as skilled in grammar or public speaking.

John was known for being very passionate and sometimes rude when arguing. He would even get physical. But after an argument, he was quick to apologize for his temper.

His School and Ideas

Many students came to John Italus's school. He taught them about the ideas of famous ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. He also taught about later philosophers like Proclus, Iamblichus, and Porphyry.

Some people believed that John's strong personality influenced his students. A historian named Anna Comnena said that many rebellious people came from his school. These problems happened before Emperor Alexios I Komnenos came to power.

The emperor became aware of the issues caused by John's teachings. John was called to appear before a church court. Even though he had the support of the church leader Eustratius, he almost faced serious trouble from an angry crowd in Constantinople.

John was forced to publicly take back his ideas. He had to say he was wrong about eleven specific points. People accused him of believing that souls could be reborn into different bodies. They also said he made fun of using images in worship. Many nobles and palace officials were said to have adopted his ideas, which worried the emperor.

Even after he publicly changed his mind, John Italus continued to teach his original ideas in private. The emperor tried to stop him, but it didn't work. Eventually, John was sentenced to be banned and sent to the Monastery Zoödochos Pege. However, because he said he was sorry, the punishment was not fully carried out in public. Later, he completely gave up his controversial ideas.

His Writings

John Italus wrote several books and essays. Some of his most important works include:

• Expositions on Various Questions: This book contains his answers to many philosophical questions.
• Exposition of Aristotle's Topics: This explains Aristotle's ideas on logic.
• On Dialectics: Another work about logic and reasoning.
• A Brief Method of Rhetoric: This book is about the art of public speaking.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Ítalo para niños