Modes of Knowledge and the Transcendental: An Introduction to Plotinus Ennead 5.3 (49) with a Commentary and TranslationThe philosophy of Plotinus is usually depicted as a quest for the absolute, outside and beyond the world of human knowledge and experience. Yet in the late treatise Ennead 5.3 [49], Plotinus shows himself a philosopher of the transcendental, rather than of the transcendent. Starting from a critical analysis of the idea of self-knowledge, he develops a world-view in which central notions of his metaphysics are represented, not as different hypostases or transcendent beings, but as limiting cases of reality as we human beings know it. Fundamental to this world-view is Plotinus' assumption that a close analogy can be established between the psychological and the physical description of man. |
Contents
I INTRODUCTION | 1 |
II ASPECTS OF THE PLOTINIAN UNIVERSE | 26 |
III MODES OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE TRANSCENDENTAL | 75 |
| 184 | |
Other editions - View all
Modes of Knowledge and the Transcendental: An introduction to Plotinus ... Henri Oosthout Limited preview - 1991 |
Modes of Knowledge and the Transcendental: An Introduction to Plotinus ... Henri Oosthout No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
A.H. Armstrong absolute unity According to Plotinus act of thinking actually Alexander of Aphrodisias Anaxagoras appears apprehend argument Aristotle aspects become mind body Bréhier chapter Cilento concept contemplation creates defined described discussion distinction distinguished elements Empedocles Enneads existence expression fact grasp Greek Henry and Schwyzer human reason hypostasis idea identity interpretation kind light living creature manuscripts means metaphor metaphysics mind's thinking Modes of Knowledge modes of thought multiple nature Neoplatonic notion object of thought origin P.F. Strawson Parmenides passage perceive perfect unity phenomena philosophical phrase Plato Plotinian Plotinus argues Plotinus says Plotinus's plurality Porphyry Posidonius possess predicate principle psychical activities psychical functions pure mind reality refers reflection respect seems self-knowledge sense-organs sense-perception Sextus Sextus Empiricus simply soul speak statement Stoic structure Theiler thing thought thinking oneself tion Transcendental translation treatise true self-knowledge vision word