Maximus to Eriugena-1

8/10/2019 Maximus to Eriugena-1

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Maximus to Eriugena: memories

of PsDionysius from

Constantinople to France

John DAlton

Monash University


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Richard Dawkins vs the

Irresistible Grace of Calvin


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Maximus PsDionysius Eriugena


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Maximus

580-662 born Constantinople, died in exile in

Lazica, Turkey.

Served as high-ranking official under

Heraclius, Byzantine Emperor from 610

onwards.

Condemned by monothelite church in

Constantinople in 655.


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Ps.Dionysius

Often known in West as Ps.Denys.

Probably 5th century Greek-speaking Syrian.

Bonaventura called him the prince ofmystics, and Aquinas quotes Dionysius about

1700 times.

Famous for espousing apophatic theology, theparadox of knowing the hidden God by

unknowing (agnosia).


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All 3 authors teach 3 points

about free-will:

Humans have free will, by nature.

Because humans beings are made in theimage of God, and as God has freedom, so do

humans.

Salvation involves a Synergy, a cooperationbetween Gods grace and human effort (which

requires free will).


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PsDionysius

People can fall way from the light becauseof their free will.

strive upward as much as you can toward

union with him who is beyond all being andknowledge.

Therefore we should ignore the popular

notion that Providence will lead us to virtueagainst our will. Providence does not destroynature.


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Eriugena

Free choice, therefore, is not an evil, although

each man may use it badly, but is counted among

the benefits which are conferred on man.

He can become an animal merely by free choice;

but he can become spiritual by free choice along

with grace, by which the natural power of the will

by no means suffices to move man to spirit. Noone is compelled to do good or to do evil by

the foreknowledge and predestination of God


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PsDionysius

God is beyond every assertion and denial

This is why we must not dare to resort to

words or conceptions concerning that hidden

divinity which transcends being, apart from

what sacred scriptures have divinely revealed.

Since the unknowingof what is beyond being

is something above and beyond speech, mindor being itself, one should ascribe to it an

understanding beyond being.


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Eriugena

One cannot arrive at a complete definition of

what Divine Nature is or what It is like, for

what cannot be completely understood

cannot be completely defined.

He is more truly and faithfully spoken of

negatively than affirmatively in all respects.


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How does Eriugena use Dionysius

Eriugena uses PsDionysius as an Authority

Maximus uses PsDionysius as a source.

Eriugena thinks in PsDionysian terms.

Quotes 1/7 of Divine Names, but uses Augustineas a shield.

Synthesises PsDion + Max + early Augustine

Is fundamentally Eastern Systematises and translates PsDion + Max for the

West.


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Conclusions

All 3 very familiar with and frequently use:

Aristotles categories

NeoPlatonism, eg. Return to the One

Eriugena attempts to synthesize the earlyAugustine with Dionysius and Maximus.

The journey of ideas from East to West during

this early medieval period dispels simplisticnotions of a sudden thirteenth centuryrediscovery of Aristotle in France.

Documents

Maximus to Eriugena-1