Mistyczne implikacje arystotelesowskiej koncepcji miejsca naturalnego

Abstract

The principal object of this paper is to depict a basic outline of the Aristotelian theory of natural place and to analyze its little known adaptations to express mystical thoughts of chosen Christians authors in different periods of history. To achieve a determined purpose in such a way, first there were presented principal assumptions of Aristotelian model of cosmos and in this context fundamental statements of the theory of natural place were sketched. Next there were discussed selected fragments of the writings of Christian authors containing the adaptations of Aristotelian view. There were analyzed fragments of the following texts: Confessions of St. Augustin, sermons and treatises of Meister Eckhart and works of St. John of the Cross. In the analyzed fragments Aristotle’s theory was adopted in a metaphorical sense to express and explain the spiritual realities of human life in its most fundamental perspective of the union with God. On the grounds of Christian mystical thought Aristotelian model of the world was used by several authors as exemplifications of many different aspects of a mystical process.