Erigena, << ee RIHJ uh nuh, >> Johannes Scotus (810?-877?), was an Irish philosopher and theologian. He became famous throughout Europe for his learning. Erigena made one of the first attempts to work out a systematic Christian philosophy. His most important book, On the Division of Nature, stated a theory based on Neoplatonic principles. Neoplatonism is a philosophy that developed from the ideas of the ancient Greek thinker Plato. The Roman Catholic Church condemned Erigena’s writings as heresy—that is, beliefs contrary to official church teachings.
