HPhil Seminar: March 16, 2023

The HPhil (History of Philosophy) Research Group of the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon announces the 2022/23 edition of its permanent seminar on the history of philosophy, devoted to the presentation of conferences by renowned specialists while also creating opportunities to emerging scholars, aiming to promote advanced studies in groundbreaking debates and the permanent training of its academic community.

In this session of the seminar, Filipa Afonso (CFUL) will present a paper entitled “Nature, being and non-being in Eriugena’s Periphyseon“ (abstract below).

The session will take place on March 16, 2023, at 5PM, in the Room C201.J (Room Mattos Romão, Department of Philosophy). The entrance is free.

 

Abstract

Eriugena dedicates the five books of his Periphyseon to the concept of nature. Although the concept of nature comprises the whole scope of Eriugena’s philosophy, establishing the proper object of his reflections, many authors have pointed out the absence of a true definition of ‘nature’ in Periphyseon, and the imprecision and fluctuation of its meaning throughout the work. This paper is an attempt to show how the absence of a definition of ‘nature’ does not amount to an insufficiency, but stems from the very conception of nature at issue in Periphyseon. Secondly, we will explain the method of division, as an alternative to a definitional approach. And finally, we will show how the various meanings of ‘nature’ throughout Periphyseon may be traced back to the primary conception of nature as all that is and all that is not, through an understanding of Eriugena’s five interpretations of the distinction between being and non-being.