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Filozofia (Philosophy)
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2020
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vol. 75
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issue 3
237 – 250
EN
This paper explores the Neoplatonic interpretations of the distinction that Plato draws at the beginning of Timaeus (27d6 – 28a1) between “that which always is and has no becoming” and “that which is always becoming but never is”. Philoponustriesto show that Plato understands “generated” in the sense of “generated in time”, rejecting Aristotle’s incompatible thesis. According to the Neoplatonic reading that Plotinus inaugurates, and Porphyry subsequently develops, “generated” (γενητóν) has two meanings: to depend on a cause and to exist by virtue of a composition. The first meaning is assigned to the incorporeal – the Intelligence and the Soul; the two meanings, on the other hand, are assigned to bodies. The Intelligence depends on a cause, the One-Good; and, in turn, the Soul depends on a cause, the Intelligence. These realities are not in the range of “that which is always generated and never is”, but of “that which always is and is not generated”, i.e. of “that which is without ceasing to be”.
EN
Plotin, in his treatise 'Against the Gnostics' (Enn. II. 9.), says that the gnostics only misinterpret the Timaeus of Plato. In the present paper, following this statement, the author tries to outline the problems that appeared in the latter ideas in the natural philosophy of the platonists, gnostics and the hermetists under the influence of the cosmological description of the Timaeus. In this question the role of the Demiurge and the interpretation of the idea of the platonic receptacle is fundamental. First of all he examines the cosmological terms (the Creator's model-The Demiurge-receptacle) in the platonic text, then he sketches out in which way the term of the receptacle was altered to the term of the matter and place in the latter cosmologies that were rooted in the platonic philosophy. Within this frame Plotin's statement will be intelligible and it can be explained. In connection with the gnostics the important point is to demonstrate that their dualistic cosmology that was blamed by Plotin is based upon the possibility of the interpretation of Plato's text. The hermetic treatise called Asclepius gives a good example how the pre-existent cosmological princple besides God can appear as matter and place at the same time. The CH VIII. shows textual parallels to the Timaeus. Besides all of these we can't rule out other, mainly eastern influences, but the examination of the ideas of platonic philosophy can make a meaningful viewpoint to the study concerning the influences that could play a significant role in the development of the dualistic cosmologies in the later antiquity.
Filozofia (Philosophy)
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2022
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vol. 77
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issue 6
456 – 470
EN
The main aim of this study is to thoroughly analyse and explain the meaning of a crucial passage 35a1-b3 from Plato’s Timaeus. At first, two rival readings of the text are presented and critically examined. Since the first one, championed for example by Alfred Taylor, meets with some serious difficulties, the other one, which is able to evade them, is shown to be clearly preferable and serves as a basis for the author’s translation of the text. It is thus argued that, according to Plato, the Demiurge when creating the world-soul proceeds in two steps. First, he takes three of the “highest kinds” (namely Being, Sameness, and Otherness) both in their divisible and indivisible form and, mixing them, create intermediate Being, Sameness, and Otherness. Second, he mixes these three intermediate kinds. As a result, the soul occupies a special place in-between the eternal and immutable ideas and the ever-changing corporeal world. Moreover, it can cognize both these “worlds” as well as exert an influence upon the corporeal one. The soul thus appears to be a key invention of the Demiurge since it can maintain the order once imposed on the world by its creator.
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