Plotinus' copy theory

In Plotinus' ontology sensible qualities can exist apart from their material aspects, and extended things are copies of immaterial forms. Plotinus' own experience of qualities apart from sensible existence convinced him that likenes could be understood in terms of shared characteristics rather than...

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Bibliographic Details
Author:J. Feidler
Published: S.n., s.l., 1977
Volume:XI
Pages:1-11
Periodical:Apeiron
Number:2
Format:Article
Topic:- Biography > Relations and Sources > Platonism - Neo-platonism > Plotinus > Plotinus
Status:Active
Description
Summary:In Plotinus' ontology sensible qualities can exist apart from their material aspects, and extended things are copies of immaterial forms. Plotinus' own experience of qualities apart from sensible existence convinced him that likenes could be understood in terms of shared characteristics rather than analogical likeness. The problem of how something extended can be like or be a copy of an unextended form arises only if it is assumed that extension is essential to sensible qualities like color and shape.