ON THE POSIBILITIES OF KNOWING THE FIRST PRINCIPLE IN PLOTINUS
ON THE POSIBILITIES OF KNOWING THE FIRST PRINCIPLE IN PLOTINUS

Summary/Abstract: This text aims to show the ways in which the Neo-Platonist philosopher believes that the first principle – that which is the first cause of all things or their generator – can be described. Although the Greek philosopher asserts that the first principle (named by him as the One, the Good or the First) is not fully knowable rationally, but only through a mystical contemplation or by direct union/ identification with him, Plotinus says that man is forced to approximate him rationally too, despite the fact that the Good is something ineffable itself. The rational ways of approximating the One that can be found in the Plotinian texts are those specific to metaphysics and theology: the cataphatic way, the apophatic way and the way of surpassing oreminence. The present text shows that all these three ways are present in the metaphysical thinking of Plotinus, even though he does not refer expressly to them.

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