Plotinus
Plotinus was a major philosopher of the ancient world, born in 204 or 205 AD in Lycopolis, Egypt, and died in 270 AD. He is best known as the founder of Neoplatonism, a philosophical movement that sought to reconcile Platonism with religious mysticism and theurgy.
Life and Works
- Early Life: Little is known about Plotinus' early life except that he was born into a wealthy family. His education and early philosophical interests are not well-documented until his travels to Alexandria where he studied philosophy under Ammonius Saccas, whom he credited with teaching him the essence of Plato's philosophy.
- Travels and Teaching: Plotinus spent around 11 years in Alexandria before joining the Roman Empire's military expedition against the Persians under Emperor Gordian III. However, the campaign failed, and Plotinus eventually settled in Rome. Here, he established a philosophical school where he taught for nearly twenty years. His lectures were later compiled into his primary work, the Enneads, by his student Porphyry.
- The Enneads: The Enneads are Plotinus' philosophical writings, divided into six groups of nine treatises each. They cover a wide array of topics including metaphysics, ethics, psychology, and aesthetics, all grounded in his Neoplatonic thought. The Enneads were not organized by Plotinus himself but by Porphyry after his death.
Philosophical Thought
- The One: At the core of Plotinus' philosophy is the concept of the The One, an ultimate, transcendent principle beyond all categories of being and non-being. Everything emanates from this One in a hierarchy of being.
- Emanation: Plotinus' theory of emanation explains how all forms of existence derive from the One. From the One emanates Nous (Intellect), from which Soul emanates, and from Soul, matter is produced. This emanation is not a creation in the traditional sense but an overflow or radiation of being.
- Contemplative Life: He advocated for a life of contemplation, where the soul ascends through various levels of being to ultimately unite with the One, achieving Henosis, or mystical union.
Influence and Legacy
Plotinus' ideas were profoundly influential:
Sources
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