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Otten, Willemien, The anthropology of Johannes Scottus Eriugena, Studies in Intellectual History, 20, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1991. 242 pp.

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Citation details
Contributors
Work
The anthropology of Johannes Scottus Eriugena
Place
Leiden
Publisher
E. J. Brill
Year
1991
Series
Number of pages
242
BibTeX
Description
Abstract (cited)
This book deals with Eriugena’s anthropology in the general context of his thinking on universal nature.

At the outset the role of man seems to be conditioned by nature's dynamic development through the Neoplatonic stages of procession and return. As man is located at the turning- point between procession and return, he is not only governed by nature's unfolding, but can also exercise control over it. Thus it is shown that man should be seen as much more independent than the cosmological structure of Eriugena's philosophy of nature seems to indicate.

The study of Eriugena's anthropology urges a re-evaluation of the position of man in the early medieval period. Although man characteristically possesses a sinful, created state, Eriugena shows that this does not prevent him from entertaining a free and direct relationship with God and the surrounding universe. In dealing with the problem of human sin, Eriugena brings out Christ’s saving role, but it seems counterbalanced by man’s intrinsic potential as the "divine image" to rehabilitate himself. In this respect Eriugena’s flexible method of reasoning – his handling of negative theology, theophany and allegorical exegesis – serves as a remarkable example of human independence in what has so often been portrayed as the "static" early-medieval world.
(source: Brill)
Subjects and topics
Sources
Texts
History, society and culture
Agents
John Scottus EriugenaJohn Scottus Eriugena
(fl 9th century)
Irish scholar and theologian who had been active as a teacher at the palace school of Charles the Bald.
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Preliminary
i–viii
“Introduction”
1–6
[Chapter 1] “Division, definition and return. An inquiry into the prologue of the Periphyseon”
7–39
[Chapter 2] “Creation and God. An explanation of major themes in Eriugena’s thinking”
40–81
[Chapter 3] “From physiology to anthropology”
82–117
[Chapter 4] “The universe of man: its procession and return”
118–189
[Chapter 5] “Back to God. The final reditus of man and nature”
190–219
“Latin appendix”
221–231
References: primary sources
233–237
Index of names
239–242
web page identifiers
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
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August 2014, last updated: September 2021
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