Plotinus on Number

Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-0-19-537719-4
Verlag: ACADEMIC

Buch, Englisch, 192 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 455 g

Ancient Greek Philosophy routinely relied upon concepts of number to explain the tangible order of the universe. Plotinus' contribution to this tradition, however, has been often omitted, if not ignored. The main reason for this, at first glance, is the Plotinus does not treat the subject of number in the Enneads as pervasively as the Neopythagoreans or even his own successors Lamblichus, Syrianus, and Proclus. Nevertheless, a close examination of the Enneads reveals that Plotinus systematically discusses number in relation to each of his underlying principles of existence--the One, Intellect, and Soul. Plotinus on Number offers the first comprehensive analysis of Plotinus' concept of number, beginning with its origins in Plato and the Neopythagoreans and ending with its influence on Porphyry's arrangement of the Enneads. It's main argument is that Plotinus adapts Plato's and the Neopythagoreans' cosmology to place number in the foundation of the intelligible realm and in the construction of the universe. Through Plotinus' defense of Plato's Ideal Numbers from Aristotle's criticism, Svetla Slaveva-Griffin reveals the founder of Neoplatonism as the first post-Platonic philosopher who purposefully and systematically develops what we may call a theory of number, distinguishing between number in the intelligible realm and number in the quantitative, mathematical realm. Finally, the book draws attention to Plotinus' concept as a necessary and fundamental linke between Platonic and late Neoplatonic schools of philosophy.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Slaveva-Griffin, Svetla

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Mathematik Allgemein Philosophie der Mathematik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophie der Mathematik, Philosophie der Physik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Antike Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Introduction: One by Number

- 1.: Platonic Cosmology on Plotinian Terms

- Ennead VI.6 and the Timaeus

- Origin of Multiplicity in Plotinus

- Plotinus' apostasies and Numenius' stasis

- The Universe as Degrees of Separation from the One

- 2.: Multiplicity as Number

- Surfacing from "the Neopythagorean Underground"

- Outward and Inward Direction of Multiplicity in VI.6

- Multiplicity as Effluence and Unity

- 3.: "The Number of Infinity"

- Plato's Position

- Aristotle's Criticism of Plato and the Platonists

- Plotinus' Answer

- 4.: Number and Substance

- Plotinus' Three Hypotheses about Number in the Intelligible Realm

- Is Substantial Number Discrete and Incidental?

- The Whole Number of Beings

- The Substantial and Monadic Number

- 5.: Number and the Universe

- Substantial Number and the One

- Substantial Number and the Absolute Being

- Substantial Number and Intellect

- Substantial Number and Beings

- Substantial Number and the Complete Living Being

- Soul and Number

- The Unfigured Figure of Soul's Dance

- 6.: Unity of Thought and Writing

- Porphyry and the Enneads

- Enneads VI.6

- "Six Along with the Nines"

- Conclusion: In Defense of Plato

- Bibliography

- Index of Names and Subjects

- Index Locorum

Über Autor(innen)

Svetla Slaveva-Griffin is Assistant Professor of Classics, Florida State University.