PLOTINUS. 2014

“All teems with symbol; the wise man is the man who in any one thing can read another.”

PLOTINUS

204 – 270AD

Ancient idealist philosopher, founder of Neoplatonism

Systematized Plato’s doctrine of the embodiment of the triad in nature and space. He defined God as an inexplicable first essence, which stands above all comprehension and generates the whole diversity of things by means of emanation (“outpouring”). The main task of Plotinus philosophy is to consistently deduce from the divine unity the gradation of everything manifested in the world, and point the way back to the original unity. This task is not scientific and not philosophical, but religious, theosophical.

Plotinus developed the soteriology of Neoplatonism – the doctrine of purification, the salvation of the soul. The return of the soul to the Divine is accomplished in the reverse elevation of it to Him. The world is transformed and returns to the Divine by the conscious efforts of the mind and soul. The blessing is that in the state of supreme prayer we can come to full union with God, to which austerity, virtue, creativity, contemplation, and true love lead.

Plotinus systematization of the teachings of Plato formed the basis of the centuries-old tradition of Neoplatonism. Plotinus had a significant impact on medieval philosophy and especially on the thinkers of the Renaissance.

WORKS “Enneads”