After Socrates Episode 14: The Procession and the Return

May 3, 2023

Explore the profound connections between knowledge and ignorance, emphasizing wonder in understanding. Dive into the duality of ultimate reality, merging intelligibility with existence. Discover Nicholas of Cusa's 'learned ignorance' to embrace contradictions for deeper truths. Engage in embodied dialogue to enhance cognitive comprehension. The interplay of Neoplatonism and Christian thought reveals a rich tapestry of philosophy, ultimately advocating for a participatory approach to reality and dialectical reasoning.

01:38:06

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INSIGHT

Eriugena's Ontological Dialectic

John Scottus Eriugena sees dialectic as the ontological structure uniting cognition and reality.
Thinking and being both unfold dialectically through procession and return from the one to the many and back.

insights

INSIGHT

Kant's Logic and Skepticism

Kant argued logic is imposed by the mind, not learned from the world, leading to solipsistic skepticism.
This implies we can never know the thing-in-itself, challenging the reality of external world knowledge.

insights

INSIGHT

Embodiment Grounds Knowing

The mind’s self-knowledge is inseparable from bodily and embodied experience.
Embodiment grounds our knowing and restrains pure solipsistic skepticism.

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Embodied Dialogue and Phenomenology

23:45 • 34min

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Exploring the Dual Nature of Ultimate Reality

57:29 • 17min

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Exploring Learned Ignorance

01:14:52 • 18min

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Exploring the Depths of Participatory Realization and Dialectical Reasoning

01:32:52 • 5min

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Being and Creation in the Theology of John Scottus Eriugena

An Approach to a New Way of Thinking

David Jasper

Sergei N. Sushkov

Sergei N. Sushkov's "Being and Creation in the Theology of John Scottus Eriugena" offers a profound exploration of Eriugena's theological system. The book delves into Eriugena's unique approach to understanding the relationship between God, creation, and humanity. Sushkov's work highlights the dialectical nature of Eriugena's thought, emphasizing the interplay of opposites and the dynamic tension between unity and diversity. The book also explores the implications of Eriugena's ideas for contemporary theological and philosophical discussions. It's a valuable contribution to the scholarship on Eriugena and offers a fresh perspective on his enduring relevance.

Beyond Formal Operations: Late Adolescent and Adult Cognitive Development

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Cheryl Armon, Michael L. Commons, & Francis Richards

The analogical turn

Rethinking Modernity with Nicholas of Cusa

Johannes Hoff

John Scottus Eriugena

Deirdre Carabine

Deirdre Carabine's "John Scottus Eriugena" offers a comprehensive study of the life, works, and theological contributions of this influential medieval thinker. The book delves into Eriugena's complex philosophical system, exploring his synthesis of Neoplatonism and Christian theology. Carabine's work provides valuable insights into Eriugena's unique approach to metaphysics, epistemology, and soteriology. It highlights the significance of Eriugena's contributions to the development of Western thought and his enduring influence on subsequent theological and philosophical debates. The book is a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in medieval philosophy and theology.

Unknown God : Negative Theology in the Platonic Tradition

Deirdre Carabine

Deirdre Carabine's "The Unknown God" delves into the history and significance of negative theology, tracing its development from Plato to John Scotus Eriugena. The book explores how this approach, which emphasizes what God is not rather than what God is, offers a unique perspective on the divine. Carabine's work sheds light on the philosophical and theological challenges of describing the ineffable, highlighting the limitations of language in grasping ultimate reality. It's a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of negative theology and its enduring relevance in contemporary thought. The book's detailed analysis of Eriugena's contributions to negative theology is particularly insightful.

The Voyage of Unknowing: Nicholas of Cusa On Learned Ignorance

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David Christopher Lane & Andrea Diem-Lane

Nicholas of Cusa

H. Lawrence Bond

Periphyseon on the Division of Nature

John the Scot

John Scotus Eriugena's "Periphyseon," also known as "On the Division of Nature," is a monumental work of medieval philosophy and theology. It attempts a comprehensive synthesis of Neoplatonism, Christian doctrine, and early Irish thought. The book explores the nature of creation, the relationship between God and the world, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. Eriugena's work is characterized by its dialectical approach, its embrace of paradox, and its profound influence on subsequent theological and philosophical developments. It remains a challenging but rewarding text for scholars and students of medieval thought.

Explorations in Metaphysics: Being-God-Person

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W. Norris Clarke S.J.

The Vision of God

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Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa's "The Vision of God" is a profound exploration of mystical experience and the nature of divine knowledge. It builds upon his concept of learned ignorance, arguing that true knowledge involves recognizing the limits of human understanding in grasping the infinite. Cusa uses the image of the omnivoyant painting to illustrate the paradoxical nature of divine vision, suggesting that God is simultaneously present to all perspectives yet transcends them. The book's exploration of the coincidence of opposites and its emphasis on the intuitive grasp of ultimate reality have had a lasting impact on mystical theology and philosophy. It remains a significant text for understanding the relationship between faith, reason, and mystical experience.

Of Learned Ignorance

Nicholas of Cusa

Nicolas Cusanus

Journey of the Mind to God

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Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure's "The Journey of the Mind to God" is a seminal work in Christian mysticism, exploring the path of spiritual ascent towards union with God. It blends Neoplatonic philosophy with Christian theology, outlining a systematic approach to contemplative prayer and spiritual growth. The book emphasizes the importance of reason and intellect in the pursuit of divine knowledge, while also highlighting the role of mystical experience. Bonaventure's work has had a lasting impact on Christian spirituality and continues to inspire contemplative practices. It remains a significant text for understanding the intersection of philosophy and faith.

Discover the profound wisdom of the Neo-Platonic Christian Tradition in this episode of After Socrates. Dive into the works of thinkers like St. Bonaventure, John Scotus Eriugena, and Nicholas of Cusa, and explore the concepts of dialectical contemplation, solipsistic skepticism, and ontological depth perception.

Guests featured: St. Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Jonathan Pageau, and more.

📚 Books & Works Discussed:

The Journey of the Mind to God by St. Bonaventure

Nicholas of Cusa on Learned Ignorance: A Translation and an Appraisal of De Docta Ignorantia by Nicholas of Cusa

Periphyseon on the Division of Nature by John the Scot

Explorations in Metaphysics: Being-God-Person by W. Norris Clarke S.J.

The Unknown God: Negative Theology in the Platonic Tradition: Plato to Eriugena by Deirdre Carabine

John Scottus Eriugena by Deirdre Carabine

Being and Creation in the Theology of John Scottus Eriugena: An Approach to a New Way of Thinking by Sergei N. Sushkov

Nicholas of Cusa by H. Lawrence Bond

The Vision of God by Nicholas of Cusa

The Voyage of Unknowing: Nicholas of Cusa On Learned Ignorance by David Christopher Lane & Andrea Diem-Lane

The Analogical Turn: Rethinking Modernity with Nicholas of Cusa by Johannes Hoff

Masters of Learned Ignorance: Eriugena, Eckhart, Cusanus (Variorum Collected Studies) by Donald F. Duclow

Beyond Formal Operations: Late Adolescent and Adult Cognitive Development by Cheryl Armon, Michael L. Commons, & Francis Richards

[0:00] Introduction

[1:40] Neo-Platonic Christian Tradition

[12:45] Distorted Thoughts

[15:22] Logic Broadly Construed

[20:43] Solipsistic Skepticism

[23:37] As Real As Myself

[27:02] Dialectical Contemplation

[33:51] Tagging, Tracking, Tracing

[37:40] Conceptual Understanding

[42:15] Demonstrative Reference

[47:10] The Cardinal Contradiction

[51:25] The Omnivoyant Image

[54:43] Being in Question

[58:30] End of Episode

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