Lesson 6 - Pseudo-Dionysius & John Scotus Eriugena

Question 1

Who attempted to systematically relate Christian thought to Neoplatonism?

Answer 1

Pseudo-Dionysius

• • Combined Neoplatonism theory of emanation to Christian theology of creation
• • Chain of Being

Question 2

Where was Pseudo-Dionysius’ epistemology (2 ways to know God)?

Answer 2

1. ) Positive way: ascribing to God all perfections

2. ) Negative Way: denying to God all creaturely attributes

Question 3

What was his relationship between theology and philosophy?

Answer 3

Complementary perspectives

– Neoplatonism is in the driver’s seat. The bible is in the passengers

Question 4

What was John Scotus Eriugena’s relationship between theology and philosophy?

Answer 4

They are one and the same

• • His theology is Neoplatonism with a Christian gloss
• • Went off the rails because of an allegorical approach to Scripture

Question 5

What was John’s 4-fold division of reality? What 2 questions did he ask?

Answer 5

1. ) Nature that creates and is not created (God as source)
2. ) Nature that is created and creates (divine ideas)
3. ) Nature that is created and doesn’t create (the world of creatures)
4. ) Nature that neither creates nor is created (God as goal of creation)

a. ) Was it created or not?
b. ) Does it create?