Transzendenz und Teilhabe

Transcendence and participation are two aspects of a fundamental doctrine in Platonic metaphysics. In Plotinus, all intelligible principles are transcendent to, i.e. separated and independent from, sensible reality. Moreover, the higher principles are transcendent to the lower ones, the first principle – the One/Good – thus transcending everything. On the other hand, sensible reality participates in, i.e. depends on and becomes formed by, intelligible principles. Intelligible principles are thus present in the sensible world through their effects, the immattered or immanent forms. Moreover, all lower intelligible principles participate in the higher ones, the latter thus being present derivatively in the former. In addition to this, all intelligible principles are present, though in another way, in all other intelligible principles of the same rank. In conceptualising different kinds of relationships among intelligible principles, Plotinus adopts, and adapts, the distinction between actuality (energeia) and potentiality or power (dynamis). This chapter outlines systematically different meanings of transcendence and participation in Plotinus while paying attention to the Greek vocabulary and the history of both concepts before and after Plotinus.