Beyond Contemplation. Notes on the First Chapter of the Vox spiritualis of Eriugena (1st part)
Abstract
In the present paper, the text of the chapter I of the homily Vox spiritualis is considered. To do so, we first present a short introduction displaying the essential data of the history of this homily and its various editions. Then, we analyse specifically two not very discussed aspects of this text: the first one, “altiuoli” (1,3), adopted by É. Jeauneau in 1969, and the second one, “obtutus” (1,8), which is found in a quotation from Nicholas of Cues. In connection with the latter, the difficulties over the text received “obtutibus” are pointed out. Then the technical meaning of the expression “mentis obtutus”, which for John Scotus means “ratio”, the second movement of the soul, is highlighted. This faculty, which knows God as the cause, must be surpassed by the evangelist John, presented in the Homily as rising to the knowledge of the highest conceivable divine mystery, and in a certain sense, it refers to the “theologia” itself (symbolized by the ether, which is confirmed by other Eriugena’s texts, in particular Periphyseon, V, 1020 C [existence in the deification of an “ascensionis gradus” superior to the “sapientia”]). Finally, some texts of the pseudo-Denys and of Maximus the Confessor are quoted, which undoubtedly inspired their translator with the doctrine of an “eyeless” knowledge (anommatos) of the divine “darkness”. [To see the second and last part of this article: Vol. 6 (1985)]Downloads
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