Living Without Why

What does it mean to "live without why"? This was the advice of Meister Eckhart (ca. 1260-1328), both in his Latin treatises to philosophers and theologians and in his German sermons to nuns and ordinary lay persons. He seems to have meant that we should live and act out of justice or goodness and not in order to gain some reward for our deeds. This message was received with indignation by the Church hierarchy and was condemned by the Pope in 1329. How did Eckhartcome to formulate it? And why was it so controversial?John M. Connolly addresses these questions by locating Eckhart's thinking about how to live within the mainstream synthesis of Christian and classical thought formulated in the High Middle Ages. He calls the classical Greek moral consensus "teleological eudaimonism," according to which correct living coincides with the attainment of happiness (eudaimonia). This involves living a life marked by the practice of the virtues, which in turn requires a consistent desire for the correct goalin life. This desire is the core notion of will. In late antiquity Augustine drew on this tradition in formulating his views about how Christians should live. This required grafting onto classical eudaimonism a set of distinctively scriptural notions such as divine providence, original sin, redemption, andgrace. In the 13th century these ideas were systematized by Thomas Aquinas in his will-centered moral theology.Eckhart claimed that this tradition was profoundly mistaken. Far from being a wild-eyed mystic or visionary, he argued trenchantly from classical philosophical principles and the Christian scriptures. Connolly proposes that Eckhart's views, long obscured by the papal condemnation, deserve reconsideration today. "This book is a signal contribution to ancient and medieval philosophy. By putting Eckhart into conversation with his predecessors (i.e., Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas), Connolly does a fine job in identifying where Eckhart makes an original-and still viable-contribution to moral thought in general. This is a remarkable work, the product of long and careful thought, as well as being clearly presented. " -Bernard McGinn, Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus of Historical Theologyand of the History of Christianity in the Divinity School and the Committees on Medieval Studies and on General Studies, University of Chicago "It would appear that Connolly has written the right book at the right moment. Through his work, the English-speaking world can become finally acquainted with the academic discussion of the last decades concerning Eckhart and can furthermore have an original and text grounded interpretation of a relevant section of his philosophical thought." -Loris Sturlese, Professor of Medieval Philosophy, Università del Salento

Connolly offers a fair and scholarly treatment of one of medieval Europe's most controversial philosophers, who challenged the very authority of the Catholic Church. This work is well written, if synoptic at times, and leads the reader through a rich historical, theological and philosophical journey through the medieval conception of the will as it developed from Aristotle and the classical Greek philosophers, all the way to Meister Eckhart and beyond. Moreover, it generally does a good job of analyzing the almost indiscernible and more obvious variations amongst the philosophies being addressed. Connolly's specialty in Eckhartian studies is apparent through his scholarly treatment of a plethora of medieval thinkers, and his mastery over the primary sources in their original medieval High German., Connolly's book, by highlighting the importance of the end of man in Eckhart's thought and by putting it in its philosophical and theological context, is always illuminating in its treatment of the great mystic., All in all, this is a very welcome and careful study. It will shed much light on a neglected person and a neglected topic., As John Connolly states in the preface to this book, he is 'fascinated' by Meister Eckhart's advice to 'live without why (or will)'. And it is this palpable fascination pulsing off the book's pages that at once helps to illuminate the philosophical underpinnings of the Eckhartian concept, as it infectiously draws the reader deeper into the riches of this text. As a scholar of Christian spirituality, and someone also smitten by the Meister's treatment of sunder warumbe, but not a trained philosopher, I find this book to be nothing short of a boon., This book is a signal contribution to ancient and medieval philosophy. By putting Eckhart into conversation with his predecessors (i.e., Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas), Connolly does a fine job in identifying where Eckhart makes an original-and still viable-contribution to moral thought in general. This is a remarkable work, the product of long and careful thought, as well as being clearly presented.

John M. Connolly is Sophia Smith Professor of Philosophy at Smith College. His research is currently focused on medieval philosophy, especially Meister Eckhart. He has also worked in philosophy of mind, Wittgenstein, contemporary German philosophy, philosophical hermeneutics, and issues of academic freedom and tolerance. Connolly has taught courses in all of these areas and also in the history of philosophy. In addition he spent ten years in collegeadministration as dean, provost, and acting president of Smith College.