Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks
Thus far unpublished even in its original German, Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks, submitted by Werner Beierwaltes as a doctoral dissertation in 1957, is presented here for the first time in English translation. Beierwaltes' investigation begins by describing the metaphoric and symbolic power attributed to light in the foundational texts of Greek antiquity. The analysis also examines the theophany or divine manifestation through light apparitions, particularly in the context of the Eleusinian mysteries. It then traces the shift from a symbolism of light to a metaphysics of light that, beginning with Pythagoras and Parmenides, takes on its full form with the impactful Platonic insight of the light-like nature of the intelligible. This is a programmatic work that presents in embryonic form themes that would later be revisited by the author throughout his vast body of work. Beierwaltes thus begins his journey through some of the central themes of the Neoplatonic tradition and its later reception, a journey that will lead him to dwell on thinkers of the stature of Eriugena, Meister Eckhart and Nicholas of Cusa.

The English translation of Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks is accompanied by an introduction to the person and work of Werner Beierwaltes by Claudia D’Amico, as well as by a substantial Essay as PostScriptum by Enrico Peroli, which allow the reader to grasp the enormous contribution of the original text. The English translation has been revised by Tadeo Lima, and the tracing and careful transcription of the Greek and Latin sources and references was carried out by Ezequiel Ludueña.

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Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks
Thus far unpublished even in its original German, Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks, submitted by Werner Beierwaltes as a doctoral dissertation in 1957, is presented here for the first time in English translation. Beierwaltes' investigation begins by describing the metaphoric and symbolic power attributed to light in the foundational texts of Greek antiquity. The analysis also examines the theophany or divine manifestation through light apparitions, particularly in the context of the Eleusinian mysteries. It then traces the shift from a symbolism of light to a metaphysics of light that, beginning with Pythagoras and Parmenides, takes on its full form with the impactful Platonic insight of the light-like nature of the intelligible. This is a programmatic work that presents in embryonic form themes that would later be revisited by the author throughout his vast body of work. Beierwaltes thus begins his journey through some of the central themes of the Neoplatonic tradition and its later reception, a journey that will lead him to dwell on thinkers of the stature of Eriugena, Meister Eckhart and Nicholas of Cusa.

The English translation of Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks is accompanied by an introduction to the person and work of Werner Beierwaltes by Claudia D’Amico, as well as by a substantial Essay as PostScriptum by Enrico Peroli, which allow the reader to grasp the enormous contribution of the original text. The English translation has been revised by Tadeo Lima, and the tracing and careful transcription of the Greek and Latin sources and references was carried out by Ezequiel Ludueña.

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Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks

Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks

by Gustavo Riesgo
Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks

Werner Beierwaltes Lux Intelligibilis: Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks

by Gustavo Riesgo

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Overview

Thus far unpublished even in its original German, Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks, submitted by Werner Beierwaltes as a doctoral dissertation in 1957, is presented here for the first time in English translation. Beierwaltes' investigation begins by describing the metaphoric and symbolic power attributed to light in the foundational texts of Greek antiquity. The analysis also examines the theophany or divine manifestation through light apparitions, particularly in the context of the Eleusinian mysteries. It then traces the shift from a symbolism of light to a metaphysics of light that, beginning with Pythagoras and Parmenides, takes on its full form with the impactful Platonic insight of the light-like nature of the intelligible. This is a programmatic work that presents in embryonic form themes that would later be revisited by the author throughout his vast body of work. Beierwaltes thus begins his journey through some of the central themes of the Neoplatonic tradition and its later reception, a journey that will lead him to dwell on thinkers of the stature of Eriugena, Meister Eckhart and Nicholas of Cusa.

The English translation of Lux intelligibilis. Investigation on the Metaphysics of Light of the Greeks is accompanied by an introduction to the person and work of Werner Beierwaltes by Claudia D’Amico, as well as by a substantial Essay as PostScriptum by Enrico Peroli, which allow the reader to grasp the enormous contribution of the original text. The English translation has been revised by Tadeo Lima, and the tracing and careful transcription of the Greek and Latin sources and references was carried out by Ezequiel Ludueña.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9783031942891
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Publication date: 10/13/2025
Pages: 172
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Werner Beierwaltes (1931-2019) was a preeminent German philosopher and historian of philosophy who dedicated his career to the study of Neoplatonism and its influence on Western philosophy. Throughout his work, Beierwaltes investigated how Platonic thought, as developed by the Neoplatonists, exerted a profound influence on both Christian theology and German idealism. Central to his historiographical work is a philosophical reflection on the relationship between identity and difference, a reflection that he developed from his studies on thinkers such as Plotinus, Proclus, Augustine, Eriugena, Meister Eckhart, Nicholas of Cusa and Giordano Bruno, and followed through to Schelling and Hegel.

Beierwaltes' academic career was as extensive as it was prolific, and he was recognized both for the profundity of his thought and for the scientific rigor of his research. In the Spanish-speaking world, he was distinguished with the Doctor honoris causa and the Roncesvalles Prize for Philosophy, both awarded by the University of Navarra. His intellectual legacy remains an essential point of reference for the study of Neoplatonism and its influence on contemporary philosophy, and has been widely documented in numerous studies and volumes dedicated to his work.

Werner Beierwaltes (1931 - 2019) was a German philosopher best known as a historian of philosophy. His most important areas of specialization were Neoplatonism and German Idealism. After teaching at several German universities, he was an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

​Gustavo Riesgo has an extensive background formation in Computer Sciences with doctoral specialization in Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. He also obtained a Licentiate Degree in Philosophy from Universidad del Norte Santo Toma's de Aquino with a Postgraduate Specialization in Medieval Thought, also a Master's Degree in Philosophy with Orientation to Natural and Cognitive Sciences from Universidad Austral, with his thesis: "To Understand or To Calculate. Cognitive Aspects of Natural Language Processing". He has received academic scholarships from the Fundación Arché de Altos Estudios Antropológicos; Earhart Foundation (Aquinas Institute, Blackfriars Hall, Oxford U., UK) and John Templeton Foundation (Institute of Philosophy, U. Austral). He is a candidate for a Doctorate in Philosophy from the FFyL of the University of Buenos Aires, for the research work "Hyperluminous Darkness. Tradition, sources and originality in the Metaphysics of Light of Dionysius the Areopagite". He directs the Areopagiticum Foundation dedicated to the study of the Corpus Dionysiacum and its receptions using artificial intelligence tools and its diffusion from a Digital Humanities perspective. He participates in the Postgraduate Program in Philosophy with Orientation to Natural and Cognitive Sciences at the Universidad Austral with his doctoral research project "Natural Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. Reality and Representation in Computational Mimesis". He is a part-time university professor in both subjects of his specialization.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Part I: Lichtsymbolik.- Chapter 2. Light as a symbol.- Chapter 3. The Divine manisfests itself in light.- Part II: Lichtmetaphysik.- Chapter 4. Pythagoras.- Chapter 5. Parmenides.- Chapter 6. Plato.- Part III: Intelligible Light.- Chapter 7. Conclusion.- Appendix I.- Appendix II.

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