Maximus to Eriugena: memories

of PsDionysius from
Constantinople to France
John DAlton
Monash University

Richard Dawkins vs the

Irresistible Grace of Calvin

Maximus

PsDionysius

Eriugena

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.

Ps.Dionysius
Often known in West as Ps.Denys.
Probably 5th century Greek-speaking Syrian.
Bonaventura called him the prince of
mystics, and Aquinas quotes Dionysius about
1700 times.
Famous for espousing apophatic theology, the
paradox of knowing the hidden God by
unknowing (agnosia).

Eriugena

Lived ca. 800-877, born in Ireland.

Arrived at court of Charles the Bald 845.
Introduced Greek Platonism to the West.
Influences Hugh and Richard of St Victor,
Nicolas of Cusa, Eckhardt etc.
Writes De divisione naturae ( ),
which is condemned by Pope Honorius (1225).

All 3 authors teach 3 points

about free-will:
Humans have free will, by nature.
Because humans beings are made in the
image of God, and as God has freedom, so do
humans.
Salvation involves a Synergy, a cooperation
between Gods grace and human effort (which
requires free will).

Maximus
The mind functions according to nature when
it keeps the passions subject.
To the one who has rendered his heart clean
God comes to it in perfect simplicity.
The mystery of salvation belongs to those
who desire it, not to those who are forced to
submit to it.

PsDionysius
People can fall way from the light because
of their free will.
strive upward as much as you can toward
union with him who is beyond all being and
knowledge.
Therefore we should ignore the popular
notion that Providence will lead us to virtue
against our will. Providence does not destroy
nature.

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

Maximus

Apophaticism: what we cant say about God.

Kataphaticism: what we can affirm.
God is not essence and is beyond essence.
God is in Himself (insofar as it is possible to
know) neither beginning, nor middle, nor end,
nor absolutely anything that is thought of as
coming after him by nature; for he is unlimited,
unmoved, and infinite in that he is infinitely
beyond every essence, power and act.

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 unknowing of what is beyond being
is something above and beyond speech, mind
or being itself, one should ascribe to it an
understanding beyond being.

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.

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 Augustine
as a shield.
Synthesises PsDion + Max + early Augustine
Is fundamentally Eastern
Systematises and translates PsDion + Max for the
West.

Conclusions
All 3 very familiar with and frequently use:
Aristotles categories
NeoPlatonism, eg. Return to the One
Eriugena attempts to synthesize the early
Augustine with Dionysius and Maximus.
The journey of ideas from East to West during
this early medieval period dispels simplistic
notions of a sudden thirteenth century
rediscovery of Aristotle in France.