Eriugena’s Eschatological Imagination: Alienation, Theophany, and the Ascent to the Logos and the Unbounded

Abstract

This research examines the eschatological vision of John Scottus Eriugena in relation to his understanding of the interplay between alienation (rooted in the Fall), theophany and deification. Especial focus is accorded to Eriugena’s exegesis of the two Trees in Eden and how their dialectical relationship serves as a key to understanding the resolution of human alienation and the return to God, through Christ the Logos. In the second chapter I engage with key figures in the early Christian concept of deification, especially those who influenced Eriugena, such as Pseudo-Dionysius and Maximus the Confessor, situating Eriugena in a long mystical tradition. The third chapter focuses on Eriugena’s exegesis of the Fall, with a particular emphasis upon the symbolism of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This analysis elucidates his understanding of human nature and its descent into alienation. The fourth chapter examines alienation in greater depth, marking the turning point from the Fall before the ascent. The fifth chapter engages with Eriugena’s concepts of natura and theophany, highlighting the role of Creation as a manifestation of the divine. Finally, the sixth chapter follows his path of contemplation leading to union with the Unbounded through the Logos. This study seeks to contribute a fresh insight into Eriugena’s views on the Fall and subsequent alienation, demonstrating how the theophanic movement of the divine through Creation effects restoration and reconciliation of all things to God.