Lesson 4 - Neoplatonism

Question 1

What is Plotinus’ big idea?

Answer 1

All reality is a necessary overflow of being from the One - but the greater distance from that One, the less the goodness.

Question 2

Who founded Neoplatonism?

Answer 2

Plotinus (205-270)

Question 3

What is Neoplatonism considered the first of?

Answer 3

First Greek religious philosophy (the decisive bridge between classical philosophy and Augustine)

Question 4

What is Plotinus’ metaphysics?

Answer 4

Hierarchical Panentheism (everything exists in God but God is more that just the world, different from Pantheism);

Question 5

How did Plotinus view God?

Answer 5

The One - pure undifferianted unity

• • Utterly Transcendent
• • Transcends all distinctions
• • Negative Theology

Question 6

Where does being come from in Plotinus’ metaphysics?

Answer 6

All being is necessary downward emanation of the One (e.g. sunlight)

• • God is the highest being (sun) and everything flows out of the one (sunlight)
• • By nature God emanates other beings (cf. The Bible - God freely creates all things)

Question 7

What are the hierarchical levels in the “Great Chain of Being”?

Answer 7

1. ) The One - pure undifferentiated unity
2. ) Mind - the underlying rationality of the world
   a. ) Higher Mind - mind of God, where the forms are
   b. ) Lower mind - particular minds
3. ) Soul - upper, middle, and lower soul
4. ) Matter - physical things in the world

Question 8

What was Plotinus’ theory on evil?

Answer 8

Evil is the absence of goodness (privation)

• • the most distance from the One
• • Matter is most evil (farthest from the One)

Question 9

What is Salvation for Plotinus?

Answer 9

Salvation involves freeing the soul from the bondage to sensual (body/matter) pleasures