Divine Illumination: The History and Future of Augustine's Theory of Knowledge (Challenges in Contemporary Theology Book 27)

In Divine Illumination, Schumacher offers an original approach to Augustine's theory of divine illumination, the precondition of all human knowledge. Written with great originality and clarity, she traces the idea through medieval thinkers, into early modernity, and reveals its importance in modern theories of knowledge. Takes an original approach to reading Augustine's theory of divine illumination and shows how the theory was transformed and reinterpreted in medieval philosophy and theologyPresents a groundbreaking way of thinking about the writings of Augustine, Anselm, Bonaventure, Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus, and relates this to cutting edge questions in contemporary philosophy of religion, especially epistemologyIs a significant contribution to the history of philosophy but also to contemporary debates on faith and reasonLays the foundation for future efforts to come to terms with the contemporary epistemological situation and its inherent problems DIVINE ILLUMINATION “An important and ground-breaking study which links growing interest in Augustine and medieval philosophy with cutting-edge questions in contemporary philosophy of religion, particularly concerning epistemology and the ‘rationality'of religion.” Janet Soskice, University of Cambridge “In this lucidly argued and solidly documented study, Schumacher uncovers the roots of problems notoriously besetting modern theories of knowledge in conflicting medieval interpretations of Augustine's assumptions about knowledge as divine illumination: an intriguing thesis, which she handles with delicacy and flair.” Fergus Kerr, O.P. University of Edinburgh “Challenges the traditional history of theories of knowledge. A bold and provocative reading.” Olivier Boulnois, École Pratique des Hautes Études (University of Paris, Sorbonne) Divine Illumination offers an original interpretation of Augustine's theory of knowledge, tracing its development in the work of medieval thinkers such as Anselm, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus. Although Scotus is often deemed responsible for finally pronouncing Augustine's longstanding illumination account untenable, Schumacher shows that he only rejected a version that was the byproduct of a shift in the understanding of illumination and knowledge more generally within the thirteenth-century Franciscan school of thought. To reckon with the challenges in contemporary thought on knowledge that were partly made possible by this shift, Schumacher recommends relearning a way of thinking about knowledge that was familiar to Augustine and those who worked in continuity with him. Her book thus anticipates a new approach to dealing with debates in contemporary epistemology, philosophy of religion, and theology, even while correcting some longstanding assumptions about Augustine and his most significant medieval readers. In Divine Illumination, Schumacher Offers An Original Approach To Augustine's Theory Of Divine Illumination, The Precondition Of All Human Knowledge. Written With Great Originality And Clarity, She Traces The Idea Through Medieval Thinkers, Into Early Modernity, And Reveals Its Importance In Modern Theories Of Knowledge. Takes An Original Approach To Reading Augustine's Theory Of Divine Illumination And Shows How The Theory Was Transformed And Reinterpreted In Medieval Philosophy And Theologypresents A Groundbreaking Way Of Thinking About The Writings Of Augustine, Anselm, Bon. Augustine. -- Anselm. -- Divine Illumination In Transition. -- Bonaventure. -- Aquinas. -- Divine Illumination In Decline. -- The Future Of Augustine's Theory Of Knowledge. Lydia Schumacher. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.