A collection of Meister Eckhart's five "Parisian Questions", among the most complete of Eckhart's Latin works, as well as the prologues to his proposed Opus tripartitumOpus tripartitum, which most scholars agree was never completed and large portions of which are lost, so that the full extent of his work may never be known.
The questions are derived from the second of the books in the Opus tripartitumOpus tripartitum, the Opus quæstionumOpus quæstionum. They are called "Parisian" due to their origins in his tenure as Director of the Staff of Theology at the University of Paris. The prologues include the general prologue to the Opus tripartitumOpus tripartitum as well as the two prologues to the first part of the work, the Opus propositionumOpus propositionum and the third, the Opus expositionumOpus expositionum.
While a collection of Eckhart's Latin works exists edited by a number of scholars, most prominently Josef Koch, this translation offers to English readers a rare glimpse into Eckhart's most important theological works, far surpassing the more popular German sermons in both content and scholarly acumen.
Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris. Coming into prominence during the decadent Avignon Papacy and a time of increased tensions between the Franciscans and Eckhart's Dominican Order of Preacher Friars, he was brought up on charges later in life before the local Franciscan-led Inquisition. Tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII, his "Defence" is famous for his reasoned arguments to all challenged articles of his writing and his refutation of heretical intent. He purportedly died before his verdict was received, although no record of his death or burial site has ever been discovered.
Meister Eckhart is sometimes (erroneously) referred to as "Johannes Eckhart", although Eckhart was his given name and von Hochheim was his surname.
"Perhaps no mystic in the history of Christianity has been more influential and more controversial than the Dominican Meister Eckart. Few, if any, mystics have been as challenging to modern day readers and as resistant to agreed-upon interpretation."
—Bernard McGinn, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart... Show more