Definitionv1DF-587
Via negativa
the approach of defining something by what it is not, rather than by what it is, particularly in decision-making where subtractive knowledge is more robust than additive knowledge because we can be more confident about what harms us than what helps us
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the theological and decision-making concept of via negativa as presented in the lesson. It establishes the genus (approach to definition/decision-making) and differentia (defining by negation rather than affirmation) while explaining the key principle that subtractive knowledge is more reliable than additive knowledge in uncertain environments.