Question

This thinker compared interpretations of scripture to the innumerable colors in a peacock’s tail feathers. This thinker replied “only a table” when a king seated across from him asked what separates him from a fool. In a five-book dialogue between a magister and a student, this thinker differentiated species such as “that which creates and is not created” and “that which was created and does not create.” Using his then-unusual knowledge of Greek, this thinker translated (-5[1])writings he thought were by an Athenian disciple of Saint Paul, the Divine Names and the Celestial (10[1])Hierarchy (10[1])of Pseudo-Dionysius. (10[2])This author succeeded Alcuin as leader of the Palace School and wrote The Division (-5[1])of Nature. For 10 points, (10[1])name this 9th-century Neoplatonist philosopher, (10[2]-5[1])whose Gaelic origin earned him the same nickname (10[1])as a 13th-century scholastic (-5[1])named Duns. (10[2]-5[1])■END■ (10[4]0[9])

ANSWER: John Scotus Eriugena [accept variants like Johannes Scotus Erigena or John the Scott Erigena; prompt on John Scotus or John the Scott; reject “John Duns Scotus”]
<Philosophy>
= Average correct buzz position