Via Negativa

Question 1

What is the Via Negativa?

Answer 1

The Via Negativa offers a powerful way to preserve the mystery and transcendence of God by arguing that the best way to describe God is through negation—saying what God is not rather than what God is

Question 2

Who was Pseudo-Dionysius and what did he say about the via negativa?

Answer 2

-Pseudo-Dionysius, an early Christian mystic, argued that God is “beyond all being and knowledge” and cannot be captured by human language or concepts
-For example, saying “God is not finite” or “God is not changeable” avoids limiting God with human attributes and reminds believers that God transcends all categories of creation
-This protects the idea that God is wholly other and prevents anthropomorphising the divine.

Question 3

How does the via negativa link to mystical experiences?

Answer 3

-The Via Negativa also links to mystical experience, encouraging a deeper spiritual encounter with God through silence and contemplation rather than rational description. -Therefore, this approach remains valuable for religious believers who wish to maintain humility and reverence in the face of divine mystery

Question 4

What is a key role of the via negativa?

Answer 4

-A key aspect of the Via Negativa is its focus on transcendence and the role of mystical experience in coming to know God
-Rather than using logical descriptions or affirming qualities, this method invites individuals to move beyond language altogether, into a state of spiritual stillness and union with the divine
-Pseudo-Dionysius and later thinkers like Moses Maimonides argued that true knowledge of God comes not from defining Him, but from removing false and limited ideas—like saying God is not changeable, not temporary, or not selfish
-Maimonides claimed that by stripping away all misleading attributes, we come closer to approaching what God actually is, even though we never fully grasp it. -He writes “The negation of the false attributes increases our knowledge of God,” highlighting how eliminating human limitations brings us nearer to understanding divine reality
-This negative method reflects a deep respect for the mystery of God, treating Him not as a concept to analyse, but as a reality to encounter

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of via negativa?

Answer 5

-The Via Negativa has been criticised for being too limiting, as it provides no positive understanding of God’s nature and risks making religious language meaningless. By only saying what God is not—for example, “God is not finite” or “God is not changeable”—the approach avoids anthropomorphism but leaves believers with an empty concept. Philosopher Brian Davies argues that “only saying what something is not gives us no idea at all of what it actually is,” meaning that the Via Negativa may protect God’s mystery but at the cost of all content
-Thomas Aquinas himself acknowledged this limitation. While he used the apophatic method at times, he believed it was insufficient on its own and instead developed the analogical approach, which allows for meaningful but limited positive statements about God. For Aquinas, saying “God is good” is not the same as saying a person is good, but there is still a real connection between the two ideas. This shows that Aquinas valued the need for cautious but affirmative language about God, which the Via Negativa lack