Truth v Intelligence

In the Devine Comedy, Dante encounters Virgil, the Roman poet, who volunteers to help him find his way to God. But Virgil, who represents human reason, can only lead him the first part of the way, and then must turn Dante over to Beatrice, who represents divine love. At the first level of Anti-Purgatory, when Virgil’s part is near completion, he says “She must be your lamp between truth and mere intelligence” (Dante, Purgatorio, Canto VI, 47-48). Intelligence and reason, if we are honest, can lead us to an acceptance of God’s existence, but they cannot explain the love of God that offers salvation.

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