Philosopher (204 – c.270)
Founder of the Neoplatonic School of philosophy and one of the last ancient Greek philosophers of the Graeco-Roman period, Plotinus achieved revival of the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy at a time when Hellenism had reached its downfall and Christianity began prevailing. As a spiritual successor of Plato, Plotinus recreated the Platonic philosophy and developed a sophisticated philosophical movement based on the teachings not solely of Plato, but also of Pythagoras, Aristotle and Epicurus.
The world in which Plotinus was born was much different from that of classical antiquity. It was a world of ethical and spiritual decline. Philosophic Schools had become scarce and unproductive while Greece had become subjugated to the Romans. Concurrently, the rise of Christianity had plunged the world into superstition and indifference. The result was confused souls who had lost their purpose seeking new ideals and values in a world where knowledge and truth had been replaced by faith and belief.
In the midst of this illusory world appeared Plotinus, tasked with providing a new direction to humanity’s misguided soul. He began studying philosophy from the age of 8, constantly changing schools and teachers, until he met Ammonius Saccas, next to whom he studied for 8 consecutive years. Plotinus completed his studies in the Museum of Alexandria, the biggest spiritual center of Hellenism at the time, home of thousands of spiritual treasures which were used by Plotinus for laying the foundations of Neoplatonism. He travelled to Persia, Antioch and settled in Rome, where he founded a school composed of a small circle of students. Notable students of his were Porphyry, Gentilianus and Rogatianus, a high-ranked senator who gave up all his property and freed his slaves upon hearing Plotinus’ teachings.
Plotinus’ philosophy is considered to be the last perfect expression of the Hellenic soul. He calls humanity to contemplation to discover the true meaning of eudaimonism and happiness; the return to the One, the Ultimate Being and the unification with that One Being, from which all life emanates. No name can express the grandness of the One. It is the force from which all souls come and to which all will return. The One created the universe and all life-forms.
The practicality of Plotinus’ philosophy is for man to live an ethical and virtuous life that will make him similar to God («Θεῶ ὁμοιωθῆναι») and return to his divine fatherland, leaving behind the materialistic world in which the soul was entrapped into the body and celebrating a state of unification of the soul with The One.
There exist two worlds: the earthly and the divine world, which contradict each other. The earthly world is the living image of the noetic/spiritual world that is contained within Nous (intellect) as a thought. Man’s soul participates in both of these worlds since its origin is from the divine world. Hence, the soul is in constant battle with the forces of the conscious world that draw the soul toward it. The soul’s goal is to defeat these forces and head toward the hyperconscious world, from which is originates and become one with God. This is Plotinus’ metaphysical idea on the human soul, which he addresses to humanity in order for them to live a virtuous and ethical life. Only in the hyperconscious world will man find true happiness; not in the conscious world where materials prevail.
Plotinus’ hyperconscious world is comprised of three foundational elements of his philosophy: The One, the Nous and the Cosmic Soul. The One, as discussed above, is the infinite source of reality. The Nous (intellect) is the Divine Mind, a separate entity of The One which is paralleled to the rays of the sunlight, which befall on The One. This way, the One contemplates itself. The Nous is the source of all material things, the origin of the Platonic Forms or Ideas. Nous is not a self-sufficient entity like The One but possesses the ability to meditate on the thoughts which form its very being. Finally, the Cosmic Soul, the third level of reality, is a concept defined by Plotinus that gives the purpose of God’s descent to the earthly world. The higher part of the Soul remains eternally in the Divine Realm while the lower part of the Soul, the active one, descends into the aesthetic world and falls victim to the materialistic hedones, forgetting its divine origin. Plotinus struggles to return the lower part of his Soul to the Divine Realm through the cultivation of Virtue, the practice of Dialectic and Contemplation.
Plotinus revived all of the highest spiritual conceptions ever discovered by the Greek philosophers in attempt to salvage the fore coming generations. Neoplatonic philosophy, which Plotinus founded, is a magnificent compilation of all the spiritual forces of antiquity, comprised of a complete system of philosophy, religion, metaphysics and science. It formed the leading philosophical movement of the Graeco-Roman era and the Byzantine era. Plotinus was the last Greek intellect of antiquity and his philosophy the last glimmer of the ancient Greek spirit. He wanted to overcome Christianity but it proved to be stronger than his own religion. Plotinus continued the work of Pythagoras and Plato and became one of humanity’s greatest Teachers. His work, in turn, was continued by his successors Proclus and Pletho – Gemistus, who cultivated and disseminated the Neoplatonic philosophy.
Bibliography
- Gravigger, Petros. Pythagoras and the Mystical Teaching of Pythagoreanism. Ideotheatron * Dimeli: Athens, 1998. Print.
- Moore, Edward. Plotinus. Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Iep.utm.edu. Web. Retrieved on December 30, 2016.
- Pleures, Konstantinos. Greek Philosophers. Athens: Hilektron Publications, 2014. Print.
- “Plotinus”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
- Stokes, Philip. Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers. Fytraki: Athens, 2008. Print.
