Overview
This lecture covers Plotinus's views on beauty from Ennead I.6, explaining his metaphysical hierarchy, his critique of symmetry as the essence of beauty, and his belief in a higher, intellectual principle of beauty connected to the soul's moral and philosophical development.
Plotinus and His Context
- Plotinus was a 3rd-century philosopher, regarded as the founder of Neoplatonism.
- He interpreted and adapted Plato’s philosophy for a Roman Empire context.
- His thought centers on three aspects: the One (the ultimate reality), the Intellect (realm of forms), and the Soul (which seeks the One and Intellect).
The Nature of Beauty
- Plotinus asks what makes things beautiful, including objects, actions, and virtues.
- Traditional answer: Beauty comes from symmetry or harmonious arrangement of parts.
- Plotinus rejects symmetry as sufficient for explaining all beauty.
Critique of Symmetry as Beauty
- Symmetry only applies to composite things, not simple things like colors or a single note.
- Faces might remain symmetric yet appear less beautiful on different days.
- Abstract beauties like noble actions or laws cannot be measured by symmetry.
- Symmetry can exist in ugly or immoral things, showing it's not equivalent to beauty.
- Virtues and the beauty of intellect have no measurable symmetry.
Plotinus’s Principle of Beauty
- Beauty is a universal, real principle recognized intuitively by the soul.
- The soul recognizes beauty because it is "programmed" to perceive it, rooted in ancient, innate knowledge.
- Beauty connects the material world to the divine, especially through the Forms in the Intellect.
The Soul, Beauty, and Ugliness
- The soul perceives beauty as a connection to higher, divine reality (the Forms).
- Ugly things lack this connection; ugliness is the absence of beauty.
- An ugly soul is absorbed in physical pleasures and vice, wandering from its true nature.
- Purification of the soul returns it to a connection with the divine, freeing it from material distractions.
The Hierarchy of Beauty
- Higher beauties include virtues, justice, and wisdom, which are closer to truth and ultimate reality.
- Appreciating higher beauties leads to "true love" and moral cultivation.
- Material beauty derives its value from sharing in the higher, intellectual form of beauty.
Moral Implications and Human Responsibility
- Ugliness is associated with moral evil and attachment to material existence.
- Humans should strive to ascend from material to intellectual beauty, developing virtuous souls.
- The ultimate goal is to align with the divine source of beauty, reclaiming true humanity.
Key Terms & Definitions
- The One — Ultimate, foundational principle of reality, source of all existence and goodness.
- Intellect — Realm of Forms, containing perfect archetypes of all things.
- Soul — The human mind that seeks connection with the One and Intellect.
- Form — Abstract, perfect essence of things (e.g., Beauty itself).
- Neoplatonism — Philosophical system interpreting Plato, emphasizing transcendent reality.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Ennead I.6 and summarize the main argument in your own words.
- Reflect: How does Plotinus’s view compare to Plato or Aristotle on beauty?
- Consider: What practical steps might one take to “purify” the soul as Plotinus describes?