Dionysius and the Via Negativa

Dionysius, often referred to as pseudo-Dionysius, is significant in Christian mysticism due to the authority his texts gained by attributing his writings to a first-century figure from the New Testament. His work, particularly 'Mystical Theology,' argues that our concepts and expressions about God fall immensely short of the reality of God, introducing the idea of the 'via negativa' which emphasizes experiencing a transcendent reality that human language cannot adequately describe. For instance, he posits that the divine essence is better expressed through a negation of concepts, invoking the notion of 'divine darkness' that surpasses all notions of light. This foundation laid by Dionysius would greatly influence later mystics, including Meister Eckhart, by encouraging an understanding of God that transcends conventional definitions and nomenclature.