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1 - So Many Mirrors

from Part I - Descent and Fall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2024

Mateusz Stróżyński
Affiliation:
Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Poland
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Summary

This chapter discusses the creation of the intelligible world, which comes to being through the formative activity of the Good on its first product. The Great Kinds are dynamically balanced principles, by virtue of which Intelligible Matter received form as Being, Movement achieves Rest, and Difference is united by Identity, thus establishing Intellect, the One-Many. The three crucial principles of the Plotinian metaphysics are outlined: (1) the principle of the microcosm, (2) the imaging principle, and (3) the principle of the triadic selfhood. In light of the first principle, at all the levels of reality there exist individual beings who exist within and are united with the great principles of reality by virtue of two forms of participation. The notions of vertical and horizontal participation are defined. The imaging principle relates to reality consisting of hierarchies of dynamically produced images of higher archetypes. What is expressed participates vertically in its archetype. The third principle is a triadic intertwining of loving and knowing with selfhood. The “negative” or “potential” aspects of the Great Kinds are described as the metaphysical seeds of evil and fall.

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Chapter
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Plotinus on the Contemplation of the Intelligible World
Faces of Being and Mirrors of Intellect
, pp. 23 - 55
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • So Many Mirrors
  • Mateusz Stróżyński, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Poland
  • Book: Plotinus on the Contemplation of the Intelligible World
  • Online publication: 03 September 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009494854.003
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  • So Many Mirrors
  • Mateusz Stróżyński, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Poland
  • Book: Plotinus on the Contemplation of the Intelligible World
  • Online publication: 03 September 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009494854.003
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • So Many Mirrors
  • Mateusz Stróżyński, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Poland
  • Book: Plotinus on the Contemplation of the Intelligible World
  • Online publication: 03 September 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009494854.003
Available formats
×