Negative Theology in the Works of Pseudo-Dionysius

Subject Areas : Christianity

مریم السادات  نوابی ¹ (ندارد)
محمد  ایلخانی ² (ندارد)

Received: 2012-10-17 Accepted : 2012-12-17 Published : 2012-03-20

Keywords: Pseudo-Dionysius, Negative Theology, Divinity, the Good, the absolute&#x0D, &#x0D, names,

Abstract :

One of the important subjects of the philosophy of religion is thereligious language. This subject was introduced in the early theologicaland mystical books, prior to the modern works of the philosophy ofreligion. Pseudo-Dionysius is one of the early thinkers who hassystematically surveyed the subject in his books. For talking about Godhe prefers the negative language to affirmative one. Pseudo-Dionysiusbelieves that the negative language is the language of intelligiblerealities thus when a person, in his spiritual journey, comes up to thestate of the intelligible realities he begins to pray God by negativelanguage. Therefore for Pseudo-Dionysius the negative theology isrelated to a special stage of knowledge. However he ascribes negativelanguage to intelligible manifestations of God, not to the God’sessence. He describes intelligible and hidden manifestations of God as"Super–existence" and for him it is not reasonable to talk about"Super–existence" in an earthy way. For this reason negative languageis the best way to talk about God.