Abstract

In this paper I intend to look at a debate arising in the early Middle Ages which focused on the divine names. The topic was so formulated in the 6th century by the writer who came to be known as the “pseudo-Dionysius” who was in fact a theological writer in the neo-Platonic tradition in the early 6th century whose theological/mystical writings were very influential in the 13th century theological debates. I will refer to him simply as Dionysius. Among his writings is a work titled On the divine Names—St Thomas Aquinas wrote a detailed commentary on this book and came to differ from him not in the commentary but in his own writing in the Summa Theologiae. I am assuming consequently that this discussion should cast some light on the question as to how we should both think and speak about God.