emanationist

Emanationism is a philosophical and theological concept that posits the idea that the universe and all its contents are derived from a single, divine source. This source is often referred to as the "First Cause" or the "Unmoved Mover," which is the ultimate, unchanging, and perfect being from which all other beings emanate. The term "emanation" refers to the process by which this divine source gives rise to the material world and all its contents.

Emanationism is closely associated with the philosophy of Plotinus, a Neoplatonist philosopher from the 3rd century AD. Plotinus believed that the divine source, or the One, is the ultimate reality and that all other beings, including the world of forms and the material world, are emanations from this source. According to Plotinus, the One is pure, unchanging, and perfect, while the emanations are imperfect and changing.

Emanationism has had a significant influence on various philosophical and theological traditions, including Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, and some forms of Christianity. It has also been a subject of debate and criticism, with some philosophers and theologians arguing that it leads to a form of idealism or dualism, while others have defended it as a coherent and plausible explanation for the origin of the universe.