The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 343: Plotinus the Neo-Platonist (Part One)
Jun 10, 2024
Guest Chris Sunami, a Neo-Platonist scholar, discusses Plotinus' philosophy focusing on 'the one' and metaphysical pursuits towards higher realities. Topics include the concept of beauty, the descent of the soul, and exploring the intricate connections between the good and the beautiful in Plotinus' work.
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Plotinus' Hierarchical Metaphysics
- Plotinus created a metaphysical system where higher realities like the One, Intelligence, and Soul are distinct levels beyond the material world.
- The One transcends being and cannot be known directly but only through unity, influencing later religious thought.
Experiencing Unity with the One
- We cannot have knowledge of the One, only an experience of unity with it by merging with its center within ourselves.
- This unitive experience transcends discursive knowledge and involves the coincidence of our soul's center with the One's center.
The One as Sun and Source
- The Neoplatonic worldview views the One as the sun at the center of a solar system, source of all goodness and truth.
- Our world is a distant reflection from this source, but through contemplation we may move closer to unity.