illumination
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In philosophy, "illumination" refers to a theory of knowledge, most notably articulated by St. Augustine. This theory posits that human understanding and the ability to grasp ideas are made possible by a divine "illumination" of the mind by God. This concept is metaphorical, likening the mind to an eye that can only see when God, the source of light, illuminates it. Augustine's theory applies to all forms of knowledge, not just spiritual insights, and was developed partly to counter Skepticism. This philosophical idea contrasts with the more common understanding of illumination as the provision of light or a statement that clarifies something.123
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epistemologySt. AugustineIllumination, the other element of the theory, was for Augustine and his many followers, at least through the 14th century, a technical notion, built upon a visual metaphor inherited from Plotinus (205–270) and other Neoplatonic thinkers. According to that view, the human mind is like…
Read MoreIllumination, the other element of the theory, was for Augustine and his many followers, at least through the 14th century, a technical notion, built upon a visual metaphor inherited from Plotinus (205–270) and other Neoplatonic thinkers. According to that view, the human mind is like…
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PlatonismAugustinian Platonism…subjectivity of his doctrine of illumination—in its insistence that in spite of the fact that God is exterior to humans, human minds are aware of him because of his direct action on them (expressed in terms of the shining of his light on the mind, or sometimes of teaching) and…
Read More…subjectivity of his doctrine of illumination—in its insistence that in spite of the fact that God is exterior to humans, human minds are aware of him because of his direct action on them (expressed in terms of the shining of his light on the mind, or sometimes of teaching) and…
Read More