Theophany: The Neoplatonic Philosophy of Dionysius the Areopagite (Suny Series in Ancient Greek Philosophy)
The work of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite stands at a cusp in  the history of thought: it is at once Hellenic and Christian, classical and  medieval, philosophical and theological. Unlike the predominantly  theological or text-historical studies which constitute much of the  scholarly literature on Dionysius,Theophanyis completely  philosophical in nature, placing Dionysius within the tradition of ancient  Greek philosophy and emphasizing, in a positive light, his continuity with  the non-Christian Neoplatonism of Plotinus and Proclus. Eric D. Perl offers  clear expositions of the reasoning that underlies Neoplatonic philosophy  and explains the argumentation that leads to and supports Neoplatonic  doctrines. He includes extensive accounts of fundamental ideas in Plotinus  and Proclus, as well as Dionysius himself, and provides an excellent  philosophical defense of Neoplatonism in general."This is, in many ways, the book for which teachers in the field have been  waiting: a book that clearly and fully sets out the philosophical logic in  Dionysius in a way accessible to undergraduate students and yet tackles the  most vexed and controverted questions so strongly as to make it a necessity  for graduate students and scholars in the field. Eric Perl has produced a  remarkable unification of philosophy and accurate historical scholarship,  something very rare." -- Wayne J. Hankey, author ofOne Hundred Years of  Neoplatonism in France: A Brief Philosophical History"Dionysius is an extremely important Christian Platonist in his own right  and also for the enormous impact he had on medieval philosophy. Getting his  metaphysics right is essential, and Perl has done an outstanding job  articulating his philosophical genius." -- John Bussanich, author ofThe  One and Its Relation to Intellect in Plotinus: A Commentary on Selected  Texts--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.