Te birth of Trinitarian metaphysics in the Christian West in the 4th - 9th centuries

Tis article considers the development of a very specific school of philosophical thought, subsequently called Trinitarian Metaphysics, which arises in the Christian West in the 4th - 9th centuries as a result of introspection on the doctrine of the Trinity. Tis school of thought presupposes the existence of a defined trinitarian ontological structure of cosmic existence as a whole and of each being separately, which can be considered a result of the creative activity of the trinitarian First Cause of the universe - the Triune God. Te chief contribution to the development of Trinitarian Metaphysics was made by Augustine of Hippo, who identified some basic metaphysical triads (“trinitarian models”), such as existence - form - order, unity - equality - concord, measure - form - order, measure - number - weight, and so forth. He also characterized the relationship between the elements of these triads and the extent to which they relate with the Persons of the Holy Trinity. Augustine identified also a close connection between Trinitarian Metaphysics and trinitarian psychology, which has its own psychological triads, which, according to him, more clearly demonstrate the image of the Triune God, but have a similar internal structure and the same functions as the metaphysical triads. Subsequently, this close connection between trinitarian metaphysics and trinitarian psychology was confirmed and developed in the works of such Western Christian thinkers as Fulgentius of Ruspe, Claudianus Mamertus, Cassiodorus, and John Scotus Eriugena.