The Self as Image and Suddenness: Some Remarks on Plotinus’ Noetic Life

Peitho 10 (1):103-112 (2019)
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Abstract

This article focuses on certain dimensions of Plotinus’ notion of the noetic self, which so far have not received sufficient scholarly atten­tion. The evidence of Enn. V 8 makes clear the assumption about the inexhaustible generativity of the noetic self. This generativity implies an intimate relation with the notions of image and suddenness: the former is intended as a medium of unconditional self-transparency, whereas the latter is understood as pointing to the unlimited newness that is char­acteristic of the noetic life, which, according to Plotinus, consists in an indissoluble unity of identity and alterity. The aforesaid notions make it reasonable to view Plotinus’ concept of noetic self as pointing to a predominantly relational and dynamic ontology, in which essentialism presupposes no staticity whatsoever, but can rather be seen as a perspective that leads to the development of a harmonious and non-narcissistic creativity.

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Plotinus on Self: The Philosophy of the 'We'.Pauliina Remes - 2007 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Plotinus on Consciousness.D. M. Hutchinson - 2018 - New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Platon und Aristoteles in der Nuslehre Plotins.Thomas A. Szlezák - 1980 - Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia 36 (2):219-220.
Platon und Aristoteles in der Nuslehre Plotins.Th A. Szlezák - 1981 - Zeitschrift für Philosophische Forschung 35 (2):305-307.
Platon und Aristoteles in der Nuslehre Plotins.Th A. Szlezák - 1981 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 43 (4):750-751.

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