This short, early treatise undertakes to explain the controversial thesis that all souls-this includes individual human souls and the world-soul-are in some sense just one soul. Plotinus considers a number of objections that can be raised against the thesis. For instance, if the thesis is true, it may seem to follow that that everything that holds for one soul also holds for every other soul. Plotinus seeks to explain that such objections are off the mark, which also shows that the thesis about the unity of soul is not a claim about strict identity of all souls. He then (chapter 5) considers and rejects two materialistic hypotheses about the relationship between individual souls and the world-soul. In the final chapter he presents his own solution: the individual souls and the world-soul are all the soul hypostasis. He likens the relationship between the hypostatic soul and the individual souls with that between a science and the theorems of the science: each theorem potentially contains the whole science and can in a sense be said to be it.
| ISBN: | 9798988320142 |
| Publication date: | 31st May 2026 |
| Author: | Plotinus |
| Publisher: | Parmenides Publishing |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 96 pages |
| Series: | The Enneads of Plotinus |
| Genres: |
Philosophy Philosophical traditions and schools of thought |
This short, early treatise undertakes to explain the controversial thesis that all souls-this includes individual human souls and the world-soul-are in some sense just one soul. Plotinus considers a number of objections that can be raised against the thesis. For instance, if the thesis is true, it may seem to follow that that everything that holds for one soul also holds for every other soul. Plotinus seeks to explain that such objections are off the mark, which also shows that the thesis about the unity of soul is not a claim about strict identity of all souls. He then (chapter 5) considers and rejects two materialistic hypotheses about the relationship between individual souls and the world-soul. In the final chapter he presents his own solution: the individual souls and the world-soul are all the soul hypostasis. He likens the relationship between the hypostatic soul and the individual souls with that between a science and the theorems of the science: each theorem potentially contains the whole science and can in a sense be said to be it.
Ennead IV.9 features in the following genres: Philosophy, Philosophical traditions and schools of thought
Ennead IV.9 is available in Paperback
Ennead IV.9 was written by Plotinus and published by Parmenides Publishing
Ennead IV.9 has 96 pages
Yes it is part of The Enneads of Plotinus series
£22.49