Table Of ContentBRILL'S STUDIES
IN
INTELLECTUAL HISTORY
General Editor
A.J. VANDERJAGT, University of Groningen
Editorial Board
M. COLISH, Oberlin College
J.I. ISRAEL, University College, London
J.D. NORTH, University of Groningen
H.A. OBERMAN, University of Arizona, Tucson
R.H, POPKIN, Washington University, St. Louis-UCLA
VOLUME 20
THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF
JOHANNES SCOTTUS
ERIUGENA
BY
WILLEMIEN OTTEN
•Λ s
'681'
E.J. BRILL
LEIDEN · NEW YORK · KOBENHAVN · KÖLN
1991
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the
Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library
Resources.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Otten, Willemien.
The anthropology of Johannes Scottus Eriugena / by Willemien
Otten.
p. cm. -- (Brill's studies in intellectual history, ISSN
0920-8607 ; v. 20)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004093028 (cloth)
1. Erigena, Johannes Scotus, ca. 810-ca. 877. De divisione
naturae. 2. Erigena, Johannes Scotus, ca. 810-ca. 877-
- Contributions in philosophical anthropology. 3. Erigena, Johannes
Scotus, ca. 810-ca. 877—Contributions in philosophy of nature.
4. Philosophical anthropology. 5. Philosophy of nature. I. Title.
II. Series.
8765.J33D465 1990
189-dc20 90-42391
CIP
ISSN 0920-8607
ISBN 90 04 09302 8
© Copyright 1991 by E.J. Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
translated in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche
or any other means without written permission from the publisher
Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal
use is granted by E.J. Brill provided that
the appropriate fees are paid directly to Copyright
Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, SALEM MA
01970, USA. Fees are subject to change.
PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS
CONTENTS
Preface vii
Introduction 1
1. DIVISION, DEFINITION AND RETURN. AN INQUIRY INTO THE PRO
LOGUE OF THE PERIPHYSEON
1.1. The First Division of Natura: Division and Definition ... 7
1.2. The Second Division οι Natura: Division and Return ... 18
1.3. The Relation between the First and the Second Division.
A Closing Comparison 28
2. CREATION AND GOD. AN EXPLANATION OF MAJOR THEMES IN
ERIUGENA'S THINKING
Introduction 40
A. Ontology and Intelligibility 40
B. The Intermediary Role of Reason 43
C. Summary 47
2.1. The Road from Creation to God. The Negative
Approach 48
A. Apophatic Theology 48
B. The Position of the Categories 57
C. The Outcome of the Negative Approach: Success or
Defeat 59
2.2. Transition to a New Set of Metaphors 60
2.3. The Road from God to Creation. The Metaphorical
Approach 66
A. Theophany 66
B. Conclusions and Consequences 76
3. FROM PHYSIOLOGY TO ANTHROPOLOGY
3.1. The Universe of Nature and its Dialectical Connotations 82
A. Negative Theology versus Theophany 82
B. The Theophanic Impact of Procession and Return 89
C. Conclusion 94
3.2. Man's Position inside' and 'outside' the Universe 95
A. Outside' the Universe 95
B. 'Inside' the Universe 107
C. Summary 115
VI CONTENTS
4. THE UNIVERSE OF MAN. ITS PROCESSION AND RETURN
Introduction 118
A. The Dialectical Universe of Man 118
B. Three Anthropological Levels 125
4.1. Man as Object of natura creata. An External Approach to
Human Nature: Periphyseon IV, chapters 3 to 6, 11 to 15 132
A. The Position of Man 132
B. Man and the Return of Nature 140
C. Summary 149
4.2. Man as imago naturae. An Allegorical Approach to Human
Nature: Periphyseon IV, chapters 16 to 27 153
A. The Position of Man 153
B. Man and the Return of Nature 165
C. Summary 171
4.3. Man as the Reflective Subject of Nature: Knowledge,
Self-Knowledge and Return. A Theophanic Approach to
Human Nature: Periphyseon IV, chapters 7 to 10 172
A. The Position of Man 172
B. The Return of Man 181
5. BACK TO GOD. THE FINAL REDITUS OF MAN AND NATURE
5.1. The Three Anthropological Levels Interrelated 190
5.2. The Return of Nature through Man 203
5.3. The Final Return of Man. One with God 210
Latin Appendix 221
References 233
Index 239
PREFACE
This book arose out of a theological dissertation defended at the Univer
sity of Amsterdam in June, 1989. Its contents are the result of a few years
spent on theological reflection. It is well known that Eriugena is a difficult
thinker, and his dialectical way of presentation does not make it easy to
discover the structure of his thought. Then to explain his dynamic
thought-pattern in a crystallized form, as a book requires, was even more
of a balancing act. I am very grateful to Professor L. M. de Rijk, my
thesis-director, for providing me with clear and critical remarks through
out this process. They help warrant the philosophical accuracy of this
book.
Years of solitary reflection would not have yielded this result, had there
not been the productive counterpoise of teaching. I am very grateful to the
Theological Faculty of the University of Amsterdam, which was my home
base from May, 1986 to May, 1990. The opportunity to teach and partici
pate in seminars with colleagues and students exploring medieval theolo
gy greatly contributed to my scholarly development. I hope to continue
this exploration in the new environment of the Theological Faculty of
Loyola University of Chicago.
While working on this book, I spent the summers of 1987 and 1988 in
Toronto, Canada. After my stay there as a special student from 1983 to
1984, going back entailed the risk of exposing cherished memories to a
confrontation with disappointing reality. This proved not at all to be the
case. My Toronto friends, so diverse as Deborah Schlow, Eric Milten
burg, Amy Jo Cooper and Jeanne Johnson, have indeed remained my
friends. In the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies and the Centre for
Medieval Studies I always felt very welcome. I would like to extend my
thanks especially to Professors Edouard Jeauneau and Brian Stock for
their friendly encouragement and support. In his capacity as external
examiner, Professor Bernard McGinn of the Divinity School of the
University of Chicago has also been extremely helpful in reading and
commenting on my work.
I would furthermore like to thank Geert Brüsewitz and James Hawks
for assisting me as paranymphs at my defence in June, 1989. I will always
cheer Geert on in his pursuit of his own research interests. To James I am
especially indebted, for he has been of invaluable assistance in improving
my English. Since I insisted on staying close to the complexities and
nuances of Eriugena's Latin, he did not have an easy task. He and Profes
sor Alastair Hamilton have also kindly corrected my English translation
Vlll PREFACE
of various Periphyseon passages. For this I have used the Sheldon-Williams-
O'Meara volume as an overall starting-point, but I often depart from it
so as to bring out the connection with my analysis of Eriugena's discourse.
This means that I alone can be held responsible for any flaws of the trans
lations in this book.
The swift publication of this work is largely due to the efforts of Brill's
series editor, Dr. Arjo Vanderjagt, who showed an interest in the manu
script even before it reached completion. This I have found to be a
stimulating token of appreciation. To realize a project as this, however,
one also needs financial resources. In the early stages of my studies, the
«Fonds Doctor Catharine van Tussenbroek» helped me with a study-
grant. To the * 'Hendrik Nannes en Catrijn Epes-leen» (Bolsward) and the
«Stichting 'Aanpakken'» (Bloemendaal) I am extremely grateful for their
assistance in helping me publish this book. Without their generous sup
port it would have been virtually impossible to get an opportunity to reach
a wider audience.
My gratefulness to Dr. M.B. Pranger cannot be subsumed under any
of the above 'formal' categories. Not only has he been the initiator of this
project, but also he has shown continuous support throughout the many
stages of its development: as a supervisor and a discussion partner. I wish
to express my thanks to you, Burcht, for a constant friendship which was
one of equality even from its earliest beginnings, when I did not yet distin
guish the contours of my own personality. In the course of time my view
points have sometimes assumed their own profile, but the thought that
this friendship, springing as if from destiny, might not always be the same
totally defies my imagination.
My studies form an organic part of what is in fact a broader life. Its
theological and personal foundation I owe to my parents. Dick's company
has turned it into a shared enterprise. One should regard this book as es
sentially belonging to the same enterprise. It should be seen, in the light
of Eriugena, as a product of humana ratio, inasmuch as it reflects the desire
to match the challenge of a project by the substance of one's work.
Chicago, October 1990
