Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckhart. Observations concerning the Noetic Example of the Wall in De unitate intellectus

Abstract

The relationship between Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckhart is –especially with regards to noetics– a complex matter. This paper explores the possibility of identifying coincidences and differences in their approaches starting from the noetic example of the wall used by Thomas in De unitate intellectus, which Eckhart also mentions in some of his works. I present an analysis of the example of the wall and of its use by Eckhart in a group of his sermons and treatises. As a conclusion, I claim that Eckhart, though acquainted with Thomas’ position, develops a perspective that goes beyond the Thomist framework.