Aristotle and Plotinus on the intellect : monism and dualism revisited / Mark J. Nyvlt.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nyvlt, Mark J., 1969-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plotinus.

Aristotle.

Intellect.

Monism.

Dualism.

Physical Description:

xiv, 263 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Lexington Books, [2012]

Summary:

Emphasizing the fact that Aristotle was aware of the philosophical attempt to subordinate divine intellect ($$$) to a prior and absolute principle, Aristotle and Plotinus on the Intellect: Monism and Dualism Revisited argues that Aristotle transforms the Platonic doctrine of Ideal Numbers into the intelligible content of divine intellect. Within Aristotle we have, in germ form, the Plotinian doctrine that the intelligibles are within the intellect. While the contend of divine intellect is multiple, it does not imply that divine intellect possesses a degree of potentiality, given that potentiality entails otherness and contraries Rather, as Mark J. Nyvlt argues, the very content of divine intellect is itself; it is Thought Thinking Itself ($$$). The status of the intelligible object(s) within divine intellect is pure activity that is identical to divine intellect itself, as Thomas De Koninck and Horst Seidl have argued. Therefore, the intelligible objects within divine intellect are not separate entities that determine divine intellect, as is the case in Plotinus. Aristotle succeeds in demonstrating that divine intellect is a unity-and-plurality within the cosmos, but that this does not admit of any potentiality within its being, thereby stamping divine intellect with the title of the ultimate principle of the cosmos. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I

Chapter 1 Aristotle on the Platonic Two-Principles Doctrine: The One and the Indefinite Dyad 11

Chapter 2 Aristotle and Speusippus 39

Chapter 3 Aristotelian Henology 57

Chapter 4 The Anatomy of Aristotle's Metaphysics 73

Chapter 5 The Unmoved Mover and the Simplicity and Priority of νου̑ς: Metaphysics Λ 7, De Anima III.4-5, and Metaphysics Λ 9 97

Part II

Chapter 6 The ʼEπiστρooή of the One and the Derivation of νου̑ς 131

Chapter 7 Plotinus on Phantasia: Phantasia as the Home of Self-Consciousness within the Soul 165

Chapter 8 Alcinous and Alexander on the Intelligibles within νου̑ς 187

Chapter 9 Plotinus on the Simplicity of νου̑ς: An Appropriation and Critique of Aristotle's Noetic Doctrine 215.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780739167755

0739167758

9780739167762

0739167766

OCLC:

743432530