History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 091 - James Wilberding on Nature and Neoplatonism
30 snips
Aug 26, 2012 AI Snips
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Natural Philosophy Defined
- James Wilberding defines natural philosophy as the science of motion and change in the sensible world.
- He says neoplatonists explain sensible motions as expressions of intelligible principles.
Text-Focused, Not Anti-Nature
- James Wilberding says neoplatonists lack empirical research but remain interested in nature.
- He attributes their reputation to an intense textual focus and few biological commentaries.
Cosmos As Necessarily Emanated
- James Wilberding explains Plotinus holds the sensible cosmos emanates necessarily from higher hypostases.
- Hence the cosmos must always exist as an effect of eternal principles.