Abstract

The paper deals with the source of Porphyry’s concept of a γνῶσις ἀπόλυτος, which is ascribed to the One in the commentary on Plato’s Parmenides. It will be argued, that Porphyry employs a specific, formal understanding of absoluteness, which can be traced back to Plotinus’ Enneads. Furthermore, as a careful reader of his master’s writings, Porphyry may have been inspired by Plotinus’ teachings not only concerning the formal understanding of absoluteness but also in content. This thesis is spelt out in the second part of the paper, which deals with Plotinus’ scarce and cautious reflections about the possibility to conceive of the highest principle as intellection (νόησις).