Participation and Presence: A Reflection on the Relation between the First Principle and the World in Plotinus' Philosophy

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific-research

Authors

1 Philosophy Department, Faculty of Humanities and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran. Iran.

2 Philosophy Department, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

One of the challenging issues in Plotinus’ philosophy is the relation between the One (the Foundation) and the world, which has given rise to two distinct interpretive approaches. The central question in these two interpretive currents revolves around explaining the characterization of the One as "beyond being". According to one interpretation, the "beyond being" principle is pure being devoid of form. In contrast, the rival interpretation holds that the beyond being principle transcends absolute being altogether. This article seeks to address the question of the relation between the One and the world and, subsequently, to adjudicate between these two interpretive approaches by examining the nature of the One’s priority over the world. Through an analysis of the priority, it will be demonstrated that the simplicity and transcendence of the One implies a certain mode of priority which negates any participatory relation between the One and the world. Instead, it leads to a non-participatory presence of the One in the world, a conclusion that aligns with the implications of the second interpretation.

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The Mirror of Knowledge

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 July 2025

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