Via negativa
Via negativa (Latin for "the negative way") is a concept from theological philosophy, particularly mystical theology. It refers to an approach by which the divine or transcendent is described by negatively stating what God is not. Instead of making specific statements about the positive attributes of God, the indeterminacy and transcendence of God are emphasized by removing all human concepts and attributes of God.
Core idea of via negativa:
The negative way is that the infinite and incomprehensible nature of God cannot be directly or completely described. Any positive attribute or description would reduce God's true essence to a limited, human perception. Therefore, via negativa dispenses with terms such as "good," "just," or "powerful," and instead states that God is not this or that. The goal is to recognize the divine as incomprehensible and indescribable.
Examples and application:
God as indescribable: A common example is the phrase "God is indescribable" or "God is beyond all human concepts." In this way, one recognizes that human reason and language are insufficient to fully grasp God.
Non-opposites: In mystical theology, God is often described as non-dualistic and beyond all opposites. It is said, for example, that God is neither good nor evil, nor finite nor infinite in the conventional sense. This negation of polarities is intended to clarify that God transcends all concepts.
Example from the Bible: There are several passages in the Bible where God is described in negative terms. For example, in the book of Isaiah (55:8-9): "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." This refers to the difference between human perception and divine transcendence.
Experiences of the mystical tradition: In Christian mysticism and other spiritual traditions such as Hinduism or Buddhism, the via negativa is a method by which the believer can attain a direct experience of the divine or divine reality. The mystical experience is often understood as a kind of union with the indescribable, in which one discards all worldly concepts and ideas.
Historical Significance and Representatives:
John of the Cross: A famous representative of the via negativa is the Spanish mystic John of the Cross (1542–1591). He speaks of the dark night of the soul, a state through which the believer passes by shedding worldly attachments and ideas about God. This "dark night" is a kind of spiritual purification in which the soul is freed from all limited and earthly ideas in order to experience God in his true, incomprehensible essence.
Nicetas Stethatos: The Byzantine theologian Nicetas Stethatos (c. 1000–1090) is also an important representative of this tradition. He described the experience of God as a realization of the divine characterized by absence and emptiness, leading to a deeper understanding.
Neoplatonism and Pythagoreanism: Neoplatonic and Pytagoraean philosophy also share a similar concept, emphasizing the impossibility of encompassing the infinite or the divine in limited or human categories. Plotinus, one of the most important thinkers of Neoplatonism, spoke of the "One" that lies beyond all definitions and dualities.
The Two Paths: Via Negativa vs. Via Positiva:
There is also the complementary approach known as via positiva, which focuses on making positive statements about God, such as "God is love" or "God is omnipotent." Via negativa, on the other hand, emphasizes that one must distance oneself from any positive or limited attributes in order to approach the true nature of God.
The two paths are not contradictory but often complement each other in mystical and theological traditions. The via negativa helps us recognize the limits of human knowledge and appreciate God's immeasurable transcendence, while the via positiva promotes positive experiences and spiritual transformation.
Summary:
The via negativa is a theological and mystical approach that emphasizes that God can only be known through the negation of all human ideas and concepts. This "negative" description makes it clear that the divine is immeasurable and indescribable, beyond all human concepts and perceptions. By negating attributes such as "good" or "powerful," the via negativa attempts to grasp the divine in its pure and unlimited form. This approach can be found in many mystical traditions, including Christianity and Neoplatonism and other spiritual teachings.