neoplatonism

A detailed Summary of neoplatonism


As defined by Funk and Wagnals, Neoplatonism is a type of idealistic monism in which the ultimate reality of the universe is held to be an infinite, unknowable, perfect One. From this one emanates nous (pure intelligence), whence in turn is derived the world soul, the creative activity of which engenders the lesser souls of human beings. The world soul is conceived as an image of the nous, even as the nous is an image of the One; both the nous and the world soul, despite their differentiation, are thus consubstantial with the One.

The world soul, however, because it is intermediate between the nous and the material world, has the option either of preserving its integrity and imaged perfection or of becoming altogether sensual and corrupt. The same choice is open to each of the lesser souls. When, through ignorance of its true nature and identity, the human soul experiences a false sense of separateness and independence, it becomes arrogantly self-assertive and falls into sensual and depraved habits. Salvation for such a soul is still possible, the Neoplatonist maintains, by virtue of the very freedom of will that enabled it to choose its sinful course. The soul must reverse that course, tracing in


Adolph Harnack and John Malcolm Mitchell, "Neoplatonism", in Encyclopaedia Brittanica, vol XIX, p.376, (Eleventh Edition, 1911); R. T. Wallis, Neoplatonism, p.94



Some common words found in the essay are:
Wagnals Neoplatonism, Stoicism Pythagoreanism, Idea Matter, Plato Aristotle, West Christian, Elias David, Damascius Aristotlean, Cambridge Platonism, Ammonium Saccus, Olympiodorus Platonic, world soul, neoplatonic doctrine, wallis neoplatonism, image nous, lesser souls, funk wagnalls, christian islamic, nous world, nous world soul, modern day,

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Category: History

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