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Part II. the Ethics of Invisibility in the Epistle to Diognetus

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Part II. the Ethics of Invisibility in the Epistle to Diognetus Doing the Unthinkable Theology and Moral Epistemology in Three Early Christian Thinkers Steenbuch, Johannes Aakjær Publication date: 2014 Document version Early version, also known as pre-print Citation for published version (APA): Steenbuch, J. A. (2014). Doing the Unthinkable: Theology and Moral Epistemology in Three Early Christian Thinkers. Det Humanistiske Fakultet, Københavns Universitet. Download date: 29. Sep. 2021 DOING THE UNTHINKABLE Theology and Moral Epistemology in Three Early Christian Thinkers. Ph.d.-dissertation. 99700 words ~ 245 pg. Johannes Aakjær Steenbuch (ph.d.-stipendiate) Centre for Neoplatonic Virtue Ethics Institute for Media, Cognition and Communication University of Copenhagen December 2013 “The lightning flashes of the divine beauty are absolutely ineffable and indescribable; speech cannot convey them; the ear cannot receive them. The morning star's rays, and the moon's brightness, and the sun's light, all these are unworthy to be mentioned in comparison to that glory, and are found greatly wanting as analogies to the true light. They are more distant from the divine beauty than the depth of night and moonless gloom are from the pure light of noonday. This beauty is not contemplated by fleshly eyes but is grasped by the soul alone and the mind. If at any time it shined upon the saints, it also left behind in them the unbearable pain of yearning.” (Basil of Caesarea, c. 329-379) 1 Abstract (Danish) Gennem tre casestudier argumenterer denne afhandling for, at der findes et nært forhold mellem på den ene side den negative teologi, som følger af den radikale, kvalitative distinktion mellem Skaber og skabning, som forefindes i mange tidlige kristne teologier, og på den anden side bestemte moralepistemologiske udviklinger i denne tænkning. Denne distinktion omtales i afhandlingen som den 'jødisk-kristne distinktion'. Ved 'negativ teologi' forstås et epistemologisk og lingvistisk princip, som kun tillader tale om Guds væsen eller natur i negative definitioner. Gennem en række antropologiske og etiske forbindelsespunkter har dette princip en række mulige konsekvenser for moralepistemologien. Enhver teologisk refleksion som antager denne form for negativ teologi, vil i nogen grad være en theologia viatorum. Som en teologisk undergenre som sådan, vil det også gøre sig gældende for teologisk etik. Dertil kommer at den dynamik, som er et resultat af den jødisk-kristne distinktion, gennem den delvist bibelske og delvist filosofiske idé om, at mennesket skal efterligne eller efterfølge Gud, kan spores i moralfilosofiske forestillinger om ting såsom dyd, perfektion og det gode. Dette har igen konsekvenser for moralepistemologien. Afhandlingen diskuterer tre casestudier: 1) Brevet til Diognetus (Diognetbrevet) (2. årh. e.Kr.) hvor Guds usynlighed og gerninger i frelseshistorien gør efterlignelse af Gud til et delvist paradoksalt forhold; 2) Klemens af Alexandria (c. 150-215 e.Kr.) i hvis værker findes en spænding mellem at efterligne den simple og uudsigelige guddommelige natur, og Jesu Kristi konkrete gerninger; 3) Gregor af Nyssa (c. 335-395 e.Kr.) i hvis værker negativ teologi, en forestilling om Guds uendelighed og en særlig sprogfilosofi fører til udviklingen af en avanceret og kompleks idé om moralsk perfektion. Der argumenteres for, at selvom der er store forskelle på de tre casestudier, er de alle eksempler på hvordan den jødisk- kristne distinktion influerer moralepistemologien gennem en form for negativ teologi, en forestilling om efterlignelse eller efterfølgelse af Gud, samt bestemte antropologiske forbindelsespunkter. 2 Abstract (English) Through three case studies this dissertation argues that there is a close relationship between on the one hand the negative theology, resulting from the radical qualitative distinction between Creator and creation discernible in many early Christian theologies, and on the other certain developments in the moral epistemology of this thinking. This distinction is in the dissertation termed 'the Judeo-Christian distinction'. By negative theology is meant an epistemological and linguistic notion that only allows talk of the divine essence or nature in negative definitions. Through a range of anthropological and ethical points of connection this idea has a number of possible ramifications for moral epistemology. Any theological reflection that presupposes this kind of negative theology will to some degree be a theologia viatorum. As a sub-genre of theology as such, this will also be the case for theological ethics. Moreover, through the idea, partly biblical, partly philosophical, that human beings should in some way imitate, be assimilated to or follow God, the dynamics produced by the Judeo-Christian distinction and negative theology can be recognized in moral philosophical conceptions of such things as virtue, perfection, and the good. This again has consequences for moral epistemology. The dissertation discusses three case studies: 1) The Epistle to Diognetus (2nd century AD), where God's invisibility and his works in the history of salvation makes human imitation of God a somewhat paradoxical matter; 2) Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215 AD) in whose works there is a tension between imitating the simple and ineffable divine nature, and the concrete works of Jesus Christ; 3) Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335-395 AD) in whose works negative theology, a notion of divine infinity and a certain philosophy of language is influential in the development of an advanced and complex idea of moral perfection. In the last chapter it is argued that even though there are great differences between the three, all are examples of how the Judeo-Christian distinction affects moral epistemology through a form of negative theology, an idea of imitation or following God, and certain anthropological points of connection. 3 Table of contents Abstract (Danish)...................................................................................................................................2 Abstract (English)...................................................................................................................................3 Preface....................................................................................................................................................6 Introduction............................................................................................................................................6 Part I. Negative theology and ethics in the early Church: Introduction, terminology and methodology....................................................................................................................................8 Some observations on the Judeo-Christian distinction, negative theology and ethics in early Christian thought....................................................................................................................................................8 What is the 'Judeo-Christian distinction'?....................................................................................................8 Negative theology.......................................................................................................................................12 Negative theology and imitation of God....................................................................................................18 Theological ethics as theologia viatorum...................................................................................................21 Methodology, scope and selection..............................................................................................................24 The diversities of negative theology in the early Church..........................................................................31 Negative theology in theory and practice..............................................................................................45 The terminology of negative theology.......................................................................................................45 Is there a difference between the via remotionis and the via negationis?..................................................51 Polemical uses............................................................................................................................................54 Negative theology and deification..............................................................................................................56 Imitation of God and (in)visibility in ethics...............................................................................................58 Freedom and purification...........................................................................................................................60 Consequences for moral epistemology......................................................................................................62 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................64 Part II. The ethics of invisibility in The Epistle to Diognetus..................................................66 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................66 The Epistle to Diognetus......................................................................................................................68 The MS(S), dating, author and recipient....................................................................................................68
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