Mystical Theology: Dionysius the Areopagite and his Relationship with Neoplatonism
Abstract
This article examines the foundations of "mystical theology" in the Byzantine tradition, focusing on the influential works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and his intellectual debt to Neoplatonism. The author explores how Byzantine theologians adapted Neoplatonic theories to articulate a personal, mystical experience of the divine, moving beyond doctrinal disputes. The study highlights the "apophatic" method—knowing God through negation—where the seeker ascends beyond sensory and intellectual perceptions into a "divine darkness" (gnophos) where God dwells. By analyzing the relationship between the "unapproachable" essence of God and His "energies," the paper details the process of theosis (deification), wherein the human soul achieves union with God by grace rather than by essence.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Kokotsaki, A. (2020). Mystical Theology: Dionysius the Areopagite and his Relationship with Neoplatonism . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (11), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22763
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- No. 11 (2017)
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- Articles
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