The Specificity of Understanding of the Body by Augustine of Hippo and John Scottus Eriugena. Theoretical Frame and Reception in Medieval Culture
The Specificity of Understanding of the Body by Augustine of Hippo and John Scottus Eriugena. Theoretical Frame and Reception in Medieval Culture

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I take a look at the topic of the relation between the understanding of the medieval body and the theatrical stage, their mutual connection and their metaphysical bond, which flows inside the man in his modus existendi. I will focus on the choices which the medieval man has to face, that he is fixed by his own sinful nature and the means of his own reassembling. The medieval man will be viewed as an object of his own pre-choices of good or evil, redemption and temptation. The main place of events is the body, since it is a kind of metaphysical stage for the choices which man has to face. On the other hand the theatrical stage itself is a „body“, which succeeds in its attempts to reassemble not only man but the other participants in the body-stage as well, as they are „parts“ of one divided body. A key moment is the necessary depiction of the reassembling of man, which is vital for the medieval mentality. The theoretical framework is built upon the ideas of Augustine of Hippo and John Scottus Eriugena and their understanding of man and his place in the world. Their points of view present the whole idea of the „division“ and the reassembling of man. The aim of human ex¬istence is not to be a theatrical and visual unity, but ontological one.

• Details
• Contents