Select works of Plotinus ... and extracts from the treatise of Synesius on providence / Translated from the Greek. With an introduction containing the substance of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus. By Thomas Taylor.

  • Plotinus
Date:
1817
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Select works of Plotinus ... and extracts from the treatise of Synesius on providence / Translated from the Greek. With an introduction containing the substance of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus. By Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of corporeal passions, may be moved without sympathy, and without animadversion ; so that the motions them¬ selves may be immediately dissolved, through their vicinity to the reasoning power. This, however, will not take place while the purification is proceeding to its perfection ; but will happen to those in whom reason rules without opposition. Hence in these, the inferior part wall so venerate reason, that it will be indignant if it is at all moved, in consequence of not being quiet when its master is present, and will reprove itself for its imbecility. These, however, are yet only moderations of the passions, but at length terminate in apathy. For when co-passivity is entirely exterminated, then apathy is present with him who is purified from it. For passion becomes moved, when reason imparts excitation, through verging [to the irrational nature.”] Page 13. The endeavour is not to he without sin, hut to be a God. Tiiat is, to be a God according to a simili¬ tude to divinity itself. For through this similitude, good men are also called by Plato Gods. Hence, too, Empe¬ docles says of himself, χαιρετ εγω δ’ υμμιν, ύεος αρ-βροτος ουχ ετι ύνητος., “ Farewell, no mortal, but a God am IT From this magnificent conception of human nature by the Pythagoreans and Plato, considered according to