Relation

The concept of relation, first defined by Aristotle and then treated by the Neoplatonist commentators on his Categories, serves as a basic notion in Theodore’s defence of the icons. The chapter treats different terms for the relation between image and prototype and certain illustrations that Theodore adduces in order to highlight his position. He argues that if there is such a thing as a human being, then there must also be an image of it, since every entity is the prototype of its image. He has to modify this position, however, and says eventually that an entity is at least potentially a paradigm of its image. What connects the two relata is the likeness that plays a major role in Theodore’s doctrine. This chapter also treats the topic of why the Byzantines considered the icons as ‘lifelike’.