"Merely eros? : rethinking love discourses in pseudo-Dionysius" / Chen Qita

Published in the Journal of the Study on Religion and History No. 2

Abstract:

Scholarly work on love in Pseudo-Dionysius has predominantly focused on elucidating erosas a divine epithet. Interpreted through a Neoplatonic lens, Greek erosthus appears to be the cornerstone of Dionysius’s conception of love. However, a closer examination of the Dionysian corpus reveals that two related concepts–notably philanthropy and communion–remain understudied. The two notions are integral to Dionysius’s treatment of the triadic structure of love: providential care, mutual love, and the return oflove. This article contends that philanthropy and communion are essential for understanding Dionysian eros. By situating Christ’s philanthropy and the loving communion in the middle term of mutual love, we can better grasp the rich connotations of eros within Dionysian theology