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Neoplatonism

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description Neoplatonism Overview

Neoplatonism, heavily influenced by Plotinus, is a major philosophical school that posits a single, ultimate source of all reality, often called 'The One.' Reality emanates downward from this perfect source through successive levels of being (Nous, Soul, Matter). It provides a highly structured metaphysical model for understanding the relationship between the perfect divine source and the imperfect material world.

help Neoplatonism FAQ

What does Neoplatonism mean by The One?

For Plotinus, the One is the absolutely simple first principle, beyond ordinary being and the source of everything else. Stanford's account identifies the One, Intellect, and Soul as the three basic principles of his metaphysics. ([Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2024/entries/plotinus/))

What is emanation in Neoplatonism?

Emanation is the idea that reality proceeds from the One through Intellect, or Nous, and Soul, rather than being made by a craftsman at a moment in time. The metaphor describes dependence and overflow from a simpler source, not a physical stream or a modern scientific timeline. ([Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.sydney.edu.au/entries/neoplatonism/))

Who started Neoplatonism, and where should I read him?

Plotinus, who lived around 204 or 205 to 270 CE, is generally regarded as the founder of Neoplatonism. His collected writings are known as the Enneads, and they move from ethics and the soul toward Intellect and the One. ([Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2021/entries/plotinus/index.html))

How did Neoplatonism influence later Christian thought?

Its language of the One, Intellect, Soul, and the return of the soul influenced late antique and medieval thinkers, including Augustine of Hippo. The influence was selective because Christian theologians adapted Platonic ideas to doctrines that Plotinus himself did not share. ([Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.sydney.edu.au/entries/neoplatonism/))

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