Form and Transformation: A Study in the Philosophy of Plotinus

Richard C. Smith is a professor of Classics at the University of
Alberta.

This book is an attempt to make the thought of the third-century
philosopher Plotinus more accessible to theologians, classicists, and
philosophers who are not Plotinian scholars. This is done through a
series of thematic expositions of form, light, silence, and the nature
of language/speech and love as found in the writings of the last major
philosopher in the ancient world before the assumption of cultural
dominance by Christianity.

Schroeder does not provide an extensive bibliography, since this has
been done by two other recent volumes (one by H. Blumenthal, the other
by K. Corrigan and P.O. Cleirigh); nor does he try to set forth
Plotinus’s metaphysical system (since the philosopher himself did not
do so). In fact, there are no simple presentations at all but rather a
series of observations on the philosopher’s reflections and analogies
regarding the topics noted above. Every effort is made to relate
Plotinus to the earlier thought of Plato and (sometimes) Aristotle; and,
by extensive use of the actual Greek vocabulary of Plotinus as well as
extensive quotations in translation, one gets an insight into the nature
of philosophic discourse in the third century.

Since Plotinus concentrates on the relationship of the Ultimate (or
One) to the rest of creation (and especially rational beings), the
relationship of his thought to the thought-world of the Christian
theologian becomes apparent. For example, light is presented as the
connection between the Ultimate and the world of sense. However, light
is not an emanation but rather a production of a surrounding reality
from an inner power, so that the “world as reflected image is . . .
begotten, not made.” Again, the relationship of Creation is compared
to that going from father to son (as presented in the topic of Silence,
or how we perceive the Ultimate). In Plotinian thought the Good is good
in and of itself, not because of its thought or activity, and thus
abides in silent light. Further, togetherness or “witness” is
necessary to the quest for the One and is the foundation of community
that is based on the One itself, and the One is both “lovable and
love.” The relationship of this to Christian thought-forms is clear.