In The Shadow Of The Divine: Negative Theology And Negative Anthropology In Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius And Eriugena
This article takes its starting-point in the current resurgence of interest in negative theology. Being especially prevalent among postmodern thinkers, this interest coincides with a strong conviction concerning the absence of the divine. In the postmodern context the interest in negative theology l...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
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| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
1999
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| In: |
Heythrop journal
Year: 1999, Volume: 40, Issue: 4, Pages: 438-455 |
| Online Access: |
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| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | This article takes its starting-point in the current resurgence of interest in negative theology. Being especially prevalent among postmodern thinkers, this interest coincides with a strong conviction concerning the absence of the divine. In the postmodern context the interest in negative theology leads quite naturally into a debate on negative anthropology, as humanity's increasing awareness of its own finitude appears to reflect a similar break with the metaphysics of being. To analyze the tradition of negative theology, the article goes back to its prime architect, Pseudo-Dionysius (500 C.E). By comparing him to an author who preceded him, viz. Augustine, and one who followed him, viz. Eriugena, the article aims at giving a ‘thicker’ description of his position by framing it historically. In doing so it draws two conclusions. It first shows that the connection between negative theology and negative anthropology is indeed Dionysian; as such it is rightfully pointed to in postmodern thought. In contradistinction to postmodern applications, however, Dionysius' interest in negativity is shown to reflect before all a desire to wrestle with the overpowering presence of the divine instead of concluding to its absence. |
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| ISSN: | 1468-2265 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Heythrop journal
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/1468-2265.00115 |