How did Neoplatonism continue to influence Scholastic theology?

Neoplatonism exerted a profound and persistent influence on Scholastic theology, shaping both its metaphysical frameworks and its mystical traditions. Rather than being sharply opposed to Aristotelianism, Scholasticism integrated Neoplatonic concepts through several key channels.1

• Augustinianism: The most significant influence was Augustinian Platonism, which provided a foundation for Scholastic anthropology and epistemology. Augustine’s doctrine of divine illumination—the idea that human knowledge of eternal truths requires the direct action of God—remained a central theme, particularly within the Franciscan school and thinkers like St. Bonaventure.123
• The Pseudo-Dionysian Corpus: The writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite introduced a Neoplatonic system of hierarchies and mystical theology. Scholastics such as St. Albertus Magnus and St. Thomas Aquinas wrote commentaries on these works, which provided a symbolic explanation of the universe as a reflection of the Trinity.14
• Metaphysical Synthesis: Even 13th-century thinkers heavily engaged with Aristotle were deeply influenced by Neoplatonic sources, including the works of Proclus and pseudo-Aristotelian texts derived from Neoplatonic thought. This synthesis allowed Scholastics to adapt philosophical tools to Christian doctrine, with many scholars noting that even Aquinas’s thought shares deep affinities with Plotinus.15