Abstract
In Ennead II 9,9,39–42 we find a singular passage in which Plotinus asserts that the cosmos ‘proclaims’ (προφητεύει) the divine order. It is the only passage in the Enneads where the verb προφητεύειν is used. In this paper the ‘prophetic function’ of the cosmos will be examined. It will be demonstrated how the mentioned passage – despite its unique character in the Enneads – points to the centre of Plotinus’ thought, namely his theory of the causality of intelligible beings. As a sensual product of transcendent causes, the cosmos ‘proclaims’ these causes. In consideration of other relevant passages, the implications of this notion will be delineated to deliver a more comprehensive interpretation of the cosmic προφητεύειν, not least in the context of Plotinus’ remarks about the genesis of time and the fundaments of astrology. It will be shown how Plotinus can articulate his theory of manifestation in terms of a ‘sigetic prophecy’ – ‘sigetic’ in the sense that manifestation unfolds ‘silently’.
Danksagung
Ich danke Frau Dr. Angela Ulacco und Herrn Prof. Riccardo Chiaradonna sowie ferner den beiden anonymen Gutachtern für Ihre wertvollen Hinweise.
Bibliographie
Adamson, P. 2008. “Plotinus on Astrology.” Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 35: 265–91.Search in Google Scholar
Alt, K. 1990. Philosophie gegen Gnosis. Plotins Polemik in seiner Schrift II 9. Stuttgart: Steiner.Search in Google Scholar
Alt, K. 1993. Weltflucht und Weltbejahung. Zur Frage des Dualismus bei Plutarch, Numenios, Plotin. Stuttgart: Steiner.Search in Google Scholar
Aubry, G. 2006. Dieu sans la puissance. Dynamis et Energeia chez Aristote et chez Plotin. Paris: Vrin.Search in Google Scholar
Beierwaltes, W. 1995. Plotin, Über Ewigkeit und Zeit (Enneade III 7). Übersetzt, eingeleitet und kommentiert von W. Beierwaltes. Frankfurt/M.: Klostermann.Search in Google Scholar
Chiaradonna, R. 2003. “Il tempo misura del movimento? Plotino e Aristotele (Enn. III 7 [45]).” In Platone e la tradizione platonica. Studi di filosofia antica, edited by M. Bonazzi, and F. Trabattoni, 221–50. Bologna: Cisalpino.Search in Google Scholar
Chiaradonna, R. 2014. Plotino. Roma: Carocci.Search in Google Scholar
Cilento, V. 1973. Saggi su Plotino. Milano: Mursia.Search in Google Scholar
Clark, S. R. L. 2016. Plotinus. Myth, Metaphor, and Philosophical Practice. Chicago–London: University of Chicago Press.10.7208/chicago/9780226339702.001.0001Search in Google Scholar
D’Ancona, C. 2009. “Modèles de causalité chez Plotin.” Les Etudes Philosophiques 87: 361–85.10.3917/leph.093.0361Search in Google Scholar
D’Ancona, C. 2012. “Plotin.” In Dictionnaire des Philosophes Antiques, Vol. V.2, edited by R. Goulet, 817–1000. Paris: CNRS Éditions.Search in Google Scholar
Fascher, E. 1927. Prophētēs. Eine sprach- und religionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung. Gießen: Töpelmann.10.1515/9783111547206Search in Google Scholar
Ferwerda, R. 1990. “Plotinus and the Muses.” Hermes 118: 204–12.Search in Google Scholar
Gertz, S. 2017. Plotinus, Ennead II.9: Against the Gnostics. Translation with an Introduction and Commentary. Las Vegas–Zurich–Athens: Parmenides Publishing.Search in Google Scholar
Glei, R. 1989. “Prophetie. I. Antike und Patristik.” In Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie, Vol. 7, 1473–5. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.Search in Google Scholar
Harder, R. 1956–71. “Plotins Schriften.” In Übersetzt von R. Harder, Neubearbeitung mit griechischem Lesetext und Anmerkungen fortgeführt von R. Beutler und W. Theiler, Vol. 6. Hamburg: Meiner.Search in Google Scholar
Jonas, H. 1999. Gnosis. Die Botschaft des fremden Gottes. Frankfurt/M.: Insel Verlag.Search in Google Scholar
Kalligas, P. 2014. The Enneads of Plotinus, Vol. 1. Princeton–Oxford: Princeton University Press.10.1515/9781400852512Search in Google Scholar
Linguiti, A. 2014. “Physics and Metaphysics.” In The Routledge Handbook of Neoplatonism, edited by S. Slaveva-Griffin, and P. Remes, 343–55. London–New York: Routledge.Search in Google Scholar
Michalewski, A. 2014. La puissance de l’intelligible. La theorie plotinienne des formes au miroir de l’heritage médioplatonicien. Leuven: Leuven University Press.10.2307/j.ctt14jxskdSearch in Google Scholar
Otto, W. F. 1956. Die Musen und der göttliche Ursprung des Singens und Sagens. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.Search in Google Scholar
Phillips, J. F. 1981. “The Universe as Prophet: A Soteriological Formula in Plotinus.” Roman and Byzantine Studies 22 (3): 269–81.Search in Google Scholar
Regen, F. 1988. Formlose Formen. Plotins Philosophie als Versuch, die Regreßprobleme des Platonischen Parmenides zu lösen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.Search in Google Scholar
Roloff, D. 1970. Plotin. Die Grossschrift III, 8-V, 8-V, 5-II, 9. Berlin: De Gruyter.10.1515/9783110833782Search in Google Scholar
Rutten, C. 1956. “La doctrine des deux actes dans la philosophie de Plotin.” Revue Philosophique de la France et de l’Étranger 146: 100–6.Search in Google Scholar
Schroeder, F. M. 1980. “Representation and Reflection in Plotinus.” Dionysius 4: 37–59.Search in Google Scholar
Schroeder, F. M. 1992. Form and Transformation. A Study in the Philosophy of Plotinus. Montreal–London: McGill–Queen’s University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Sleeman, J. H., and G. Pollet. 1980. Lexicon Plotinianum. Leiden–Leuven: Brill.10.1163/9789004452251Search in Google Scholar
Strange, S. K. 1994. “Plotinus on the Nature of Eternity and Time.” In Aristotle in Late Antiquity, edited by L. P. Schrenk, 22–53. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press.10.2307/j.ctt22h6r5g.5Search in Google Scholar
© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston