Theopolis Logo
Vestiges of Perichoresis

Vestiges of Perichoresis

By Peter Leithart

Hegel’s “sublation” seems to be a conceptual vestige of perichoresis.

Sublation requires the Trinity: If all is one, nothing other can be absorbed within being destroyed.  If we have sheer differentiation, all is utterly other.

Hegel is right: Sublation happens.  Aquinas does absorb Aristotle, so that Aristotle is still recognizably there even though he’s been sublated into a new system.  Marx does the same to Hegel.  Shall we say too that the New Testament does the same to the Old.

Sublation is simply the indwelling of the other within the same, the old within the new.  But the indwelling goes the other way as well, since once the old is absorbed into the new, the new cannot be understood without the old.

Hegel’s aspiration was to arrive at a point where thought itself was Christian.  Seems that he made some progress toward that end.

Peter Leithart

Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.

In Medias Res

Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.

Donate

Theopolis is nearly 100% donor-supported. Consider joining us on our mission.

Give Now

In Medias Res

Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.

Donate

Theopolis is nearly 100% donor-supported. Consider joining us on our mission.