Lesson 4 - Neoplatonism Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Lesson 4 - Neoplatonism Deck (9)
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1
Q

What is Plotinus’ big idea?

A

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

2
Q

Who founded Neoplatonism?

A

Plotinus (205-270)

3
Q

What is Neoplatonism considered the first of?

A

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

4
Q

What is Plotinus’ metaphysics?

A

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

5
Q

How did Plotinus view God?

A

The One - pure undifferianted unity

    • Utterly Transcendent
    • Transcends all distinctions
    • Negative Theology
6
Q

Where does being come from in Plotinus’ metaphysics?

A

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)
7
Q

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

A
  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
8
Q

What was Plotinus’ theory on evil?

A

Evil is the absence of goodness (privation)

    • the most distance from the One
    • Matter is most evil (farthest from the One)
9
Q

What is Salvation for Plotinus?

A

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