Esoteric Hermeneutics, Divine Hierarchy, and the Ineffable: The Philosophy of Iamblichus, Part I
Feb 16, 2022
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The podcast features special guest-star Noeric Hebdomad as they explore Iamblichus' 'esoteric-literalist' approach to the Platonic corpus and his complex metaphysics. Topics covered include Iamblichus' curriculum and scopos, contrasting beliefs between Iamblichus and Plotinus, the concept of the 'one being' and the noetic triad, the meaning of 'noeric' in Iamblichus' works, and correspondences in esoteric teachings.
Iamblichus' philosophy highlights the interconnectedness of different levels of reality through the principle of mirroring across the hypostases.
Yambukus introduces the concept of proto-forms as images of the noetic forms in the highest reality, adding complexity to the understanding of the realm of forms.
Deep dives
Four Structural Principles of Yambukus' Philosophy
Yambukus' philosophy is characterized by four main structural principles. First, he believes in a non-transformational divine hierarchy. Unlike Plotinus, Yambukus asserts that a soul remains a soul and cannot cease to be one. Second, there is a fine-grained complexity and interlocking flow within the divine hierarchy, where even the lowest reality, matter, is infused with the illumination of the gods. Third, Yambukus posits that all principles of reality extend to the ultimate depths, including matter. This means that higher principles like the One are present even in the mundane realm. Lastly, Yambukus emphasizes the principle of mirroring across the hypostases, where each level reflects and mirrors the others. This creates a self-reflexive and interconnected nature to the different levels of reality.
The Realm of the One
Yambukus identifies three primary aspects of the realm of the One. First, there is the utterly ineffable, which is beyond description and even surpasses the concept of being called the One. Second, there is the utterly One, a transcendent unity that gives rise to multiplicity. And third, a diad of limit and unlimited. These concepts are built upon Plato's Parmenides and Tameus dialogues, and Yambukus introduces an even more incomprehensible ineffability to transcendence. However, these ideas are subject to interpretation and have led to differing views among scholars.
The Noetic and Noeric Realms
Yambukus' philosophy includes the realm of the noetic and noeric. The noetic realm is the world of forms, but Yambukus introduces the notion of proto-forms, monads that exist within the highest noetic reality. These proto-forms serve as images of the noetic forms found in our world. The noeric realm, on the other hand, is a place of divine beings and Gods who are involved in the demiurgic creation of soul and the cosmos. The terminology and organization of these realms can be intricate and complex, with variations in Yambukus' writings leading to some ambiguity.
Yambukus' Changing Perspectives
There is evidence to suggest that Yambukus' views on metaphysics underwent changes over time. He may have expanded his ideas to include more complex hierarchical systems, incorporating triads within triads and various levels of mirroring. Some scholars speculate that his more esoteric teachings in texts like 'On the Speech of Zeus in Plato's Tameus' demonstrate the influence of the Chaldean oracles and a shift towards a more secretive and complex system. However, due to the limited surviving texts, it is challenging to definitively determine the evolution of Yambukus' thought.
We explore Iamblichus' extraordinary ‘esoteric-literalist’ approach to the Platonic corpus and the upper reaches of his complex metaphysics, the realms of the One(s) and the noetic-noeric levels of reality. Featuring special guest-star the Noeric Hebdomad.
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