The Role of Philosophy in Dante’s Divine Comedy

The paper considers the role of antique philosophy in medieval theology. Dante’s «Divine Comedy» was chosen as an object for a comparative study of philosophy and theology. A «сomplicated» relationship between theology and philosophy is due to the question of the creation of the world. According to Aristotle and his medieval successors Averroes and Siger of Brabant, the world was not created by God but, he is needed as the source of its movement. Despite Aristotle’s overwhelming authority as a Philosopher and a Teacher, Dante placed antique thinkers led by Aristotle, in Limbo, Hell canopy. So they were unable to pass through Hell and Purgatory and face God one day. Ancient thinkers were to blame for living before Christ and therefore not knowing him. It is underlined, that all real-life hostilities become meaningless in Heaven, where everyone is equal before God. That’s why Thomas Aquinas and Siger de Brabantt are side by side in Heaven. The article states that the theme of wisdom is a keynote of Dante’s «Divine Comedy». It is noted, that Dante’s journey through the circles of Hell, ascension into Purgatory and «getting» to Heaven is because of Beatrice – allegory of philosophy. It was philosophy (in the form of beautiful Beatrice) «coming» to help when Dante found himself in an «impassable forest» of his soul. Philosophy in the form of Beatrice presents wisdom. Theology, in turn, is intended to purify the minds, which is possible just in Purgatory. Heaven is the embodiment of justice and perception of truth, the place of some conciliation between theology and philosophy.

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