Michael Wiitala on Pseudo-Dionysius, Greek Philosophy, and Christian Religion

On Tuesday October 18th from 7pm-8pm (EDT), we had a discussion with Dr. Michael Wiitala of Cleveland State University on his recent article entitled "Dionysius the Areopagite on Whether Philosophy Should be Used in Service of Religion." As Dr. Wiitala argues, Dionysius rejects the idea that philosophy is an instrument to be used for the higher purpose of religion. Instead, philosophy is a divine thing, not subservient to religion. Yet religion is also not subservient to philosophy. As Dr. Wiitala puts it, "Philosophy does not have Christian religion as its end, according to Dionysius, nor does Christian religion have philosophy as its end. Rather both proceed from and return to the Primal Truth beyond being."