Negating Negation

Timothy D. Knepper

ISBN 10: 0227174550 / ISBN 13: 9780227174555

Published by Boydell and Brewer Ltd, GB, 2014

About this Item

A closely reasoned analysis of the works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, demonstrating that they do not support an apophatic understanding of the divine.Negating Negation' critically examines key concepts in the corpus of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite: divine names and perceptible symbols; removal and negation; hierarchy and hierurgy; ineffability and incomprehensibility. In each case it argues that the Dionysian corpus does not negate all things of an absolutely ineffable God; rather, it negates few things of a God that is effable in important ways. Dionysian divine names are not inadequate metaphors or impotent attributes but transcendent divine causes. Divine names are not therefore flatly negated of God but removed as ordinary properties to be revealed as divine causes.It is concluded that since the Dionysian corpus does not abandon all things to apophasis, it cannot be called to testify on behalf of (post)modern projects in religious pluralism and anti-ontotheology. Quite the contrary, the Dionysian corpus gives reason for suspicion of such projects, especially when they relativize or metaphorize religious belief and practice in the name of absolute ineffability.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780227174555

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Negating Negation
• Publisher: Boydell and Brewer Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0227174550
• ISBN 13: 9780227174555
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 261 grams

About this title

Synopsis

A closely reasoned analysis of the works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, demonstrating that they do not support an apophatic understanding of the divine.

Negating Negation' critically examines key concepts in the corpus of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite: divine names and perceptible symbols; removal and negation; hierarchy and hierurgy; ineffability and incomprehensibility. In each case it argues that the Dionysian corpus does not negate all things of an absolutely ineffable God; rather, it negates few things of a God that is effable in important ways. Dionysian divine names are not inadequate metaphors or impotent attributes but transcendent divine causes. Divine names are not therefore flatly negated of God but removed as ordinary properties to be revealed as divine causes.

It is concluded that since the Dionysian corpus does not abandon all things to apophasis, it cannot be called to testify on behalf of (post)modern projects in religious pluralism and anti-ontotheology. Quite the contrary, the Dionysian corpus gives reason for suspicion of such projects, especially when they relativize or metaphorize religious belief and practice in the name of absolute ineffability.

About the Author

Timothy Knepper is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Drake University, where he chairs the Department of Philosophy and Religion and directs The Comparison Project.