Gut

Under the term ‘the good’ (to agathon) Plotinus thematizes the first principle of reality. Unlike in modern Western languages, ‘good’ has no moral meaning here; rather, it denotes the highest in value. Plotinus thereby ties in with Plato’s definition of the ‘idea of the good’ in Republic 6 and 7, just as he draws on the Platonic Parmenides for the designation ‘the one’ (to hen). Plotinus considers it Plato’s genuine conception that the principle of reality is, on the one hand, the source of all aspects of value and ethical striving, as it is, on the other hand, the source of being and knowledge. For Plato, the idea of the good is located ‘beyond being’ (epekeina tês ousias: Republic 6, 509b9); Plotinus frequently refers to this formula affirmatively. Under the designation ‘the good’ Plotinus treats the first principle of reality especially in the two treatises VI 9 [9] and VI 7 [38]. Fundamental is his conviction that in everything that has arisen from the good there is a desire to return to it.