more from Plotinus

Single Idea 21808

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof]

Full Idea

Soul is the author of all living things, ...it has breathed life into them all, whatever is nourished by earth and sea, the divine stars in the sky; ...it is the principle distinct from all of these to which it gives law and movement and life.

Gist of Idea

Soul is author of all of life, and of the stars, and it gives them law and movement

Source

Plotinus (The Enneads [c.245], 5.1.02)

Book Reference

Plotinus: 'The Enneads', ed/tr. Mackenna,Stephen [Penguin 1991], p.348


A Reaction

This seems to derive from Anaxagoras, who is mentioned by Plotinus. The soul he refers to his not the same as our concept of God. Note the word 'law', which I am guessing is nomos. Not, I think, modern laws of nature, but closer to guidelines.

Related Idea

Idea 480 Past, present and future, and the movements of the heavens, were arranged by Mind [Anaxagoras]