Platon

The chapter analyses how Plotinus elaborates a systematic exposition of Platonism focused on metaphysical issues such as the nature of the divine intellect and the causality of Forms, as well as the nature of the soul, which is considered as a truly intelligible reality. It shows how the general framework of the derivation of all things from the One, according to the doctrine of ‘double activity’, is always at stake whether the problem be epistemological, cosmological or ethical. Moreover, it pays attention to the fact that Plotinus’ Platonic exegesis consists in a defence of Plato against the objections raised by the other philosophical schools: Plotinus thus integrates and adapts into a Platonic context some concepts that had been elaborated precisely against Plato, such as the Aristotelian concept of energeia. Finally, it compares Plotinus’ exegetical method to those of the Middle Platonists and discusses in what way Plotinus considers Plato as an authoritative model.