ERIGENA

(e-rij e-na), Joannes Scotus (Scotus, Scot, and Hrigena, Irish-born), an eminent medieval scholar and metaphysician, probably born of Scotch parentage in Ireland about 800-810, died in France about. 875. He spent a great part of his life at the court of Charles the Bald of France, and was placed at the head of the school of the palace. The king further imposed upon him the double task of translating into Latin the Greek works of the pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite, and of composing a treatise against Godeschale on Predestination and Freewill. This treatise, and another, De Divis i one Nature, contained many views in opposition to the teachings of the Church. They were condemned by the Councils of Valencia in 855 and of Langres in 859, and Pope Nicholas f demanded the immediate disgrace of the culprit. His subsequent history is not known.—Cf. Gardner, Studies in John the Scot. 5 ERIN, name for Ireland. Its origin is uncertain but its general use dates from the time of Thomas Moore’s poems. It occurs in the phrase Hriu go bragh, or Erin for ever.