Afektywna droga do Boga w ujęciu Bonawentury
The affective path to God according to Bonaventure

Summary/Abstract: This article is a historical and philosophical study on the dynamics of love and desire for God in Bonaventure’s approach. In particular, the article focuses on the affective interpretation of the path of the soul’s union with God. As we know, in Bonaventure’s concept, the mystical union with God (ecstasy) does not take place on the intellectual plane, because the intellect is abandoned (excessus mentis). Rather, affectivity is the field within which mystical ecstasy takes place. However, while it is common to claim that in mystical union the soul does not have any representation of God, and contact with God does not take place through knowledge or cognition, questions can still be asked: what exactly is the role of affect in excessus mentis? Is affect an alternative form of knowledge? Does affect replace intellect? The article is an attempt to at least partially answer questions about the role of affect in the Bonaventure’s concept of mystical union. The aim of the article is to show how Bonaventure interprets Dionysian negative theology and what reasons led him to state the superiority of love over knowledge. We will also show the historical sources for the formation of the Bonaventure’s concept of the path of unification. The article consists of three parts: the first is an attempt to reconstruct the Dionysian and Victorian inspirations for Bonaventure’s affective interpretation. The second part is a description of the mechanism of human desire (i.e. desire directed towards God). I will answer the question about the role of synderesis in desire. Finally, in the third part I will show the role of corporeality in the affective mystical union.

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