the One (Plotinus)

E719324

The One in Plotinus’ philosophy is the absolutely transcendent, ineffable first principle from which all reality emanates, surpassing being, intellect, and all determinate qualities.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (58)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Neoplatonic principle
first principle
metaphysical principle
ultimate reality
accessedBy intellectual and moral purification of the soul
mystical union (henosis)
associatedPhilosopher Plotinus
Porphyry
associatedTradition Platonism
associatedWork Enneads
causeOf Intellect (Nous)
Soul
all beings
all forms
all goodness
characterizedAs absolutely simple
absolutely transcendent
beyond being
beyond thought
incomprehensible
indivisible
ineffable
self-sufficient
source of unity
describedIn Enneads V.2 (On the Origin and Order of the Beings following after the First)
linked to: Enneads

Enneads V.3 (On the Knowing Hypostases and on that which is beyond)
linked to: Enneads

Enneads VI.9 (On the Good or the One)
linked to: Enneads
identifiedWith the Good (to agathon)
linked to: Philebus
influenced Christian negative theology
Islamic philosophy
later Neoplatonists
medieval metaphysics
metaphysicalStatus absolute unity
beyond all categories
unconditioned
modeOfCausality emanation
overflow (prohodos)
notIdenticalWith Intellect (Nous)
linked to: Intellect

being
material world
world-soul
philosophicalSystem Neoplatonism
precedes Intellect (Nous)
linked to: Intellect

Soul
sensible world
relationToKnowledge can be approached only by negation (via negativa)
cannot be grasped by discursive reason
relationToMultiplicity beyond multiplicity
principle of all multiplicity
relationToMysticism union with the One is the highest goal of the soul
roleInSystem first hypostasis
transcends all determinate qualities
being
essence
goodness as a predicate
intellect
knowledge
soul

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Intellect (Plotinus) follows the One (Plotinus)
subject linked to: Intellect
Intellect (Plotinus) contemplates the One (Plotinus)
subject linked to: Intellect
Intellect (Plotinus) emanatesFrom the One (Plotinus)
subject linked to: Intellect
Soul (Plotinus) lowerThan The One (Plotinus)
linked to: the One (Plotinus)
Soul (Plotinus) relatedConcept The One (Plotinus)
linked to: the One (Plotinus)
Soul (Plotinus) distinguishedFrom The One (Plotinus)
linked to: the One (Plotinus)
Soul (Plotinus) ultimateSource The One (Plotinus) through Intellect (Nous) (Plotinus)
linked to: the One (Plotinus)
Amelius of Apamea wroteAbout the One in Neoplatonism
linked to: the One (Plotinus)