Treatise on Divine Predestination is one of the early writings of the author of the great philosophical work Periphyseon (On the Division of Nature), Johannes Scottus (the Irishman), known as Eriugena (died c. 877 A.D.). It contributes to the age-old debate on the question of human destiny in the present world and in the afterlife.

The work survives in a single manuscript of which editions were published in 1650 and 1853. It has been most recently edited in 1978. The present translation was made from that edition. Modern scholars are able to discern in this early work strong intimations of Eriugena's later major writings.

About the Author

Mary Brennan was for eighteen years researcher and archivist at the Society for the Promotion of Eriugenian Studies, located at that time at University College Dublin. Her publications in this field since 1977 include Guide des Etudes Erigeniennes, A Bibliography of Publications in the Field of Eriugenian Studies, 1800-1975, and Materials for the Biography of Johannes Scottus Eriugena.

Avital Wohlman is part of the department of Philosophy, Faculty of the Humanities at the Hebew University of Jerusalem. Her research interests are ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, and philosophy of biology.

Reviews

"The De divina praedestinatione liber was written in 850-51 at the request of two prelates while John the Scot resided at the court of Charles II, grandson of Charlemagne. It is his earliest attested work, a refutation of the heretical teaching of Gottschalk on double predestination. Both John and Gottschalk claimed to base their interpretation on St. Augustine, and both continued to be subjects of controversy during the decade between 850 and 860." -Theology Digest

"Mary Brennan's translation is as helpful as her foreword. The rendition into English of Madec's text from the Corpus Christianorum is careful. The book is elegantly produced and a delight to read." -The Medieval Review

Book Information
ISBN 9780268042219
Author John Scottus Eriugena
Format Paperback
Page Count 168
Imprint University of Notre Dame Press
Publisher University of Notre Dame Press
Weight(grams) 266g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 10mm