Kausalität

The hierarchical relationship between the intelligible and the sensible realms in Plotinus has both an ontological and a causal character: an ontologically superior entity is considered the cause of entities that derive their being from ontologically superior entities. In this sense, Plotinus identifies causal priority with ontological priority. According to Plotinus, intelligible forms are the causes of sensible entities, but they do not count as first principles. The principle that sustains all forms is the Intellect, and the forms are its thoughts. According to Plotinus, however, the Intellect is not the first or supreme cause; the source and cause of the Intellect is the One. While the One is pure actuality, the Intellect, as the bearer of the forms, is characterized by both unity and plurality. The One is simple and unitary, and this absolute unity is the ground of its causal efficacy. The soul is also a cause insofar as it animates the world and, taking over the forms from the Intellect, brings them into matter. In this sense, the soul plays an important causal role insofar as it shapes the world through the forms and informs matter. The causal activity of the intelligible entities is immaterial and similar to that of thought.