Luther’s moral synthesis: occamism, Christian mysticism and the idea of being

A Raath

doi:10.4102/ids.v44i2.152

Abstract

To Luther human beings can only come to true redemptive knowledge through the Word and through faith. Although philosophical knowledge in the domain of man’s earthly exis-tence cannot provide him with true knowledge in matters of faith, such knowledge is of much importance for man’s earthly existence from a moral point of view. By submitting to universal being even unbelievers can gain valuable insights into moral matters. Such moral insights are important for making human co-existence possible in society. Within the broad context of Luther’s Occamist views on knowledge, both German mysticism and the Stoic-Ciceronian idea of being contribute towards a synthesis from which Luther’s views on morals in matters of faith and philosophy respectively emanate.

Highlights

The post-World War II era witnessed a host of important studies on Luther’s philosophical and moral views and their relatedness to his theology
Raath description of Luther’s philosophy of ethics very complicated, if not virtually impossible. In spite of such obstacles, this article briefly reflects on some of the mystical and Ciceronian elements interwoven with Luther’s theological and philosophical views on ethics. It has to be borne in mind, that Luther’s moral theory may harbour additional elements from nominalistic quarters; and that the possibility should not be excluded that the German mystics could have been influenced by Ciceronian moral philosophy. 5
In this article it is argued that within the Occamist structure of Luther’s views on theological and philosophical knowledge respectively, both the Christian mysticism reflected in the Theologia Germanica and the Ciceronian perspectives on moral duties represent important segments of Luther’s distinction between the true knowledge of God attained through the human being’s union with Christ, and the knowledge gleaned from submitting to the light of being respectively

Summary

Introduction

The post-World War II era witnessed a host of important studies on Luther’s philosophical and moral views and their relatedness to his theology. In the areas of morals and duties, the Ciceronian parallels in Luther’s thought include the divine authority binding everything in the order of creation together by means of a law, which is reflected universally as a manifestation of reason, the elements of human responsibility, duty and freedom contained in the divine providence, and the universal divine law which holds everything in the temporal sphere in its bonds To these broad trends could be added Luther’s reflections on human virtue in the order of the world, that obedience to God is freedom and that virtue consists in conformity to the order of things. Raath description of Luther’s philosophy of ethics very complicated, if not virtually impossible In spite of such obstacles, this article briefly reflects on some of the mystical and Ciceronian elements interwoven with Luther’s theological and philosophical views on ethics. The German mystics and the Frankfurter’s impact on Luther’s moral views

Mysticism in the Theologia Germanica

The Christian life and the quest for true knowledge

The light of being and moral knowledge in the order of creation

The idea of universal being and the moral insights of non-Christians

Conclusions