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ONTOLOGISM

A theory that holds that each person has an immediate intuitive vision of God, and this vision is the source and ground of all other human knowledge. Originating with Platonic mysticism, the doctrine was first projected by Marsilio Ficino (1433-99), systematically organized by Nicolas Malebranche (1638-1715), and developed by Vincenzo Gioberti (1801-52). It was condemned in 1861 as erroneous under Pius IX by the Congregation of the Inquisition.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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