Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
Plotinus follows the Timaeus and the Platonist tradition before him in postulating the existence of a World Soul whose function it is to care for the sensible world as a whole. It is argued that, since the sensible world is providentially arranged, the World Soul’s care presupposes a sort of practical thinking that is as timeless as intellectual contemplation. To explain why this thinking is practical, the paper discusses Plotinus’ view on Aristotle’s distinction between praxis and poiêsis. To explain why it is timeless, it studies Plotinus’ view on Aristotle’s distinction between complete and incomplete actuality. The focus is on Enn. IV 4, 9-12.
Publisher
SISMEL Edizioni del Galluzzo
Repository Citation
Caluori, D. (2015). Divine practical thought in Plotinus. Documenti e Studi Sulla Tradizione Filosofica Medievale, 26, 55-57.
Publication Information
Documenti e Studi Sulla Tradizione Filosofica Medievale