The Development of Apophatic Language in Late Antiquity

This chapter explores the evolution and prominence of apophatic language in late antiquity, tracing its development within late Platonism, Christianity, Sufism, and medieval Christian mysticism. It delves into the concept of apophasis as a performative act of writing or speech, highlighting its role in deconstructing assertions and emphasizing the ineffability of God's nature. The chapter also discusses the rational response to the limits of classical Greek rationalism and the rise of apophatic language as a means to address the problem of the unsayable.