Philosophic Silence and the 'One' in Plotinus
Published on 14. March 2018
312 pages
978-1-108-68874-1 (ISBN)
Description
Plotinus, the greatest philosopher of Late Antiquity, discusses at length a first principle of reality - the One - which, he tells us, cannot be expressed in words or grasped in thought. How and why, then, does Plotinus write about it at all? This book explores this act of writing the unwritable. Seeking to explain what seems to be an insoluble paradox in the very practice of late Platonist writing, it examines not only the philosophical concerns involved, but the cultural and rhetorical aspects of the question. The discussion outlines an ancient practice of 'philosophical silence' which determined the themes and tropes of public secrecy appropriate to Late Platonist philosophy. Through philosophic silence, public secrecy and silence flow into one another, and the unsaid space of the text becomes an initiatory secret. Understanding this mode of discourse allows us to resolve many apparent contradictions in Plotinus' thought.
Reviews / Votes
'... an admirably scholarly account of the cultural and philosophical context of Plotinus's works, ... strongly recommended to all with an interest in late antique reasoning and philosophy.' Journal of the History of Philosophy 'Banners book enriches the steadily growing Literature on Plotin's theology. It should turn out as the author hoped. Both for 'beginners' and for specialists as profitable reading prove.' Benedikt Kramer, PlekosMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
2,91 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-108-68874-1 (9781108688741)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Nicholas Banner
Philosophic Silence and the 'One' in Plotinus
Book
03/2018
Cambridge University Press
€129.70
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Nicholas Banner is a classical researcher concentrating on ancient philosophy and religion. He is especially interested in Platonisms, in the limits of thought and language, and in the problems of being and consciousness (and the points at which these problems overlap). He writes popular books on academic subjects. His interest in Platonism informs a number of musical projects including an old-time country band and electronic bass music and spoken word performances.
Content
Part I. The Cultural Roots of Platonist Philosophic Silence: 1. De philosophorum Graecorum silentio mystico: preliminaries; 2. The silent philosopher; 3. Perennial wisdom and Platonist tradition; 4. Plotinus and 'the Ancients': tradition, truth and transcendence; Part II. The Transcendent Absolute, the Ineffable and Plotinian Poetics of Transcendence: 5. The development of the Transcendent Absolute in the Middle Platonist milieu; 6. The Transcendent Absolute and the ineffability of reality in Plotinus; 7. The poetics of transcendence in Plotinus.
