Plotinian

Plotinian refers to a person or concept associated with the philosophical and spiritual teachings of Plotinus, a 3rd-century Greek philosopher. Plotinus was a student of Ammonius Saccas and founded his own school, the Neoplatonist school, in Rome. The name Plotinian is often used to describe the philosophical and spiritual principles developed by Plotinus, particularly in regards to the nature of reality, the universe, and the human condition.

Plotinian philosophy emphasizes the concept of the One, or the source of all existence, which is beyond human understanding and is not part of the world of sensory experience. This concept is considered the unified and perfect source of reality. From this unity, the Neoplatonist theory of the tripartite universe is derived, which posits that the universe is composed of three realms: the world of being (the noumenal realm), the world of becoming (the phenomenal realm), and the world of intelligibles (the realm of abstract Forms).

Plotinian spiritual practices focus on the attainment of union with the One, which is believed to be achieved through ascetic practices such as self-control, detachment from worldly desires, and spiritual exercises like contemplation and meditation. The ultimate goal of Plotinian spirituality is to attain gnosis, or spiritual knowledge, of the true nature of reality, and to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The teachings of Plotinus have had a profound influence on Western philosophy and spirituality, and continue to be studied and debated by scholars and practitioners today.

The concept of Plotinian can also refer to the influence of Plotinus's ideas on art, literature, and culture. For example, the Catholic Church's development of the concept of the Trinity may have been influenced by Plotinian ideas on the nature of the One and the tripartite universe.