Thinking of Nature and the Nature of Thinking: From Eriugena to Emerson by Willemien Otten
Zackary Kiebach
Reviewed by: Thinking of Nature and the Thinking: From Eriugena to Emerson by Willemien Otten Zackary Kiebach Otten, (Berkeley: Stanford University Press, 2020), xi + 284 pp. At first glance, connection between Carolingian philosopher John Scottus (810–77) American transcendentalist Ralph Waldo (1803–82) might seem incidental at best. To begin, is a figure widely neglected both medievalists theologians. His major piece writing, On (Periphyseon), staged as dialogue master student yet notoriously dense: it excessively long, adamantly meandering, almost impossible subdivide into central themes or core arguments. similarly difficult parse, despite his relative fame center Romantic movement. While more studied than Eriugena, suggests importance near-medieval dynamism Emerson's work that often left undiscussed, with suggestive mixing styles, genres, forms we are much less likely find in contemporary Henry David Thoreau. What connects figures Otten's massively transhistorical phrase book's title. argument centers on subtraction preposition: "thinking nature" distinct from about nature," latter which generally how consider Emerson, other naturalist thinkers theologians their relationship environment. The becomes subversive [End Page 281] precisely through similar grammatical shift "thinking" verb adjective. argues do, ascribe nature larger degree agency empowerment. rejects human divine framing encountered within Western theology demands our attention language an instrumentalized object thought independent subject consideration. two largest proponents project for ability hold space nature's dictate while still considering essential link selfhood, no longer mere tool but rather its own capacity thought. not without moral dimension. Both are, large gap modern premodern, heavily invested notion remains "perennially unperturbed" infinitely malleable (8). narrative crisis working against has only gained cultural currency recent years: assignation victimhood natural one further marginalizes it, just strip resources also self-definition. attuned question Anthropocene formulation nature-as-subject upon what criterion define ontological category. Her chapter premise ultimately there before identity historically been differencing ourselves nature, seeking independence label beings. An acknowledgement constitution selfhood nonvictim that, heart, holds conservation primary ethic: according independence, agency, integrity, treat respect everyday lives. book divided parts, read attempt situate them respective historical periods illustrate they align diverge thinkers. sections primarily alongside Maximus Confessor (580–662) Augustine (354–430), reverse chronological order, pair him Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834) William James (1842–1910). Chapter 1 develops terms Eriugenaian-Emersonian axis thinking rejecting misguided concerns about...
Comitatus-a Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies