School of thought

Neoplatonism

School

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Classification

Period
c. 204-529 CE
Regions
europe
Domains
Aesthetics , Metaphysics , Philosophy of Religion

Overview

Neoplatonism, systematized by Plotinus, describes reality as emanating from a transcendent, ineffable source — the One — through successive levels: the Divine Mind (Nous), the World Soul, and finally the material world. The philosopher's goal is to reverse this emanation through contemplation and achieve mystical union (henosis) with the One.

Key ideas

  • The One: The ultimate principle beyond being and thought — absolutely simple, infinite, and the source from which all reality emanates, as light radiates from the sun.
  • Emanation: Reality flows outward from the One in a necessary, eternal process: One → Nous (Intellect) → World Soul → Nature → Matter, each level less perfect than its source.
  • Contemplative Return: The soul can ascend back through the levels of reality via philosophical contemplation and purification, ultimately achieving mystical union with the One.

Key figures

Plotinus · Porphyry · Iamblichus · Proclus

Questions engaged

  • The Existence of God

    Plotinus answers with the One: an ineffable first principle beyond being and intellect, the source from which all reality emanates and to which the soul ascends — the divine understood as absolute unity rather than a being among beings.

Influenced by

  • Pythagoreanism

    Absorbed the Pythagorean and Neopythagorean emphasis on the One and on number as the structuring principle of reality into its account of emanation.

  • Stoicism

Synthesizes

Later connections

References