 The Periphyseon as a grand dialogue on physiology (physiologia is Eriugena’s hybrid science of physics-theology-philosophy) stands in continuity with the exercitatio animi and the liberal arts tradition of Augustine’s early philosophical dialogues. Eriugena appropriates and expands on Augustine’s trust that reason (ratio) can be trained by the liberal arts and can thus contemplate creation. Augustine’s intellectualism is crucial for Eriugena’s philosophical anthropology although Eriugena seems to be much more trusting than Augustine in the ability of the human to refashion itself through paideia.