Rethinking the interpretation of Thomas Aquinas to the Dionysian Negative Theology and Recovering of the Dionysian nomenclature from the shadow of Aquinas
Rethinking the interpretation of Thomas Aquinas to the Dionysian Negative Theology and Recovering of the Dionysian nomenclature from the shadow of Aquinas

Summary/Abstract: This essay intends to reveal the fundamental difference between Dionysius Areopagita and Thomas Aquinas in the principle of nomenclature strategies of Negative Theology. Aquinas is one of the most famous interpreters of Denys, but due to historical reasons, he cannot reach the historical Denys, so his interpretations are not a reliable resource to modern scholars. Since the linguistical revolution happened in the 19th century, the historical research project of Dionysian writings has been running for a long time. However, some modern scholars are still unable to escape the shadow of Aquinas. This essay reveals the limitations and deficiencies of the Dionysian nomenclature system in Aquinas’ view, particularly the oversimplified structure of the Negativity and Positivity. With the reference to the Neoplatonic concepts from Denys’ time, we can rebuild the original Dionysian nomenclature which contains a more subtle consideration of “negativity” than Aquinas. Denys inherited the Neoplatonic interpretation of Aphairesis and he distinguished this concept from Apophasis, and the ignorance of the historical background induced Aquinas to misunderstand Denys in many details. At the end of this essay, I will present a new system to deal with the Dionysian writings, much more reasonable than the legacy of Aquinas.

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