Neoplatonism

Who Is Plato?

Henosis

Henosis Henosis is the classical Greek word for mystical “oneness“, “union” or “unity.” In Platonism, and especially Neoplatonism, the goal of henosis is union with what is fundamental in reality: the One, the Source, or Monad. The Neoplatonic concept has precedents in the Greek mystery religions as well as parallels in Eastern philosophy. It is...

Constantine the Greatsummoned the bishops of the Christian Church to Nicaea to address divisions in the Church (mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), ca. 1000).

Neoplatonism And Christianity

Neoplatonism and Christianity This article covers relationship between Neoplatonism And Christianity. Neoplatonism was a major influence on Christian theology throughout Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in the West. This was due to St. Augustine of Hippo, who was influenced by the early Neoplatonists Plotinus and Porphyry, as well as the works of the Christian writer Pseudo-Dionysius...

God is not external to anyone, but is present with all things, though they are ignorant that he is so. - Plotinus

Neoplatonism

What Is Neoplatonism? Neoplatonism is a term used to designate a strand of Platonic philosophy that emerged in the third century AD against the background of Hellenistic philosophy and religion. The term does not encapsulate a set of ideas as much as it encapsulates a chain of thinkers which began with Ammonius Saccas and...

Hellenistic Philosophy

Hellenistic Philosophy

Hellenistic Philosophy The Hellenistic philosophy is the period of Western philosophy and Middle Eastern philosophy that was developed in the Hellenistic period following Aristotle and ending with the beginning of Neoplatonism. Hellenistic schools of thought Pythagoreanism Main article: Pythagoreanism Pythagoreanism is the name given to the system of philosophy and science...

Site of Plato's Academy in Athens

Platonism

What Is Platonism? Platonism, rendered as a proper noun, is the philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it. In narrower usage, platonism, rendered as a common noun, refers to the philosophy that affirms the existence of abstract objects, which are asserted to...

Who Is Plato?

Plato

Who Is Plato? Plato (Plátōn, 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was an Athenian philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece, founder of the Platonist school of thought, and the Academy, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely considered the pivotal figure in...

St. Augustine of Hippo

Divine Illumination

What is Divine Illumination? According to divine illumination, the process of human thought needs to be aided by divine grace. It is the oldest and most influential alternative to naturalism in the theory of mind and epistemology. It was an important feature of ancient Greek philosophy, Neoplatonism, medieval philosophy, and...