more from Plotinus

Single Idea 21817

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / f. Primary being]

Full Idea

The First is no member of existence, but can be the source of all.

Gist of Idea

The One does not exist, but is the source of all existence

Source

Plotinus (The Enneads [c.245], 5.1.07)

Book Reference

Plotinus: 'The Enneads', ed/tr. Mackenna,Stephen [Penguin 1991], p.355


A Reaction

The First is the One, and this explicitly denies that it has Being. This answers the self-predication problem of Forms. Plato thought the Form of the Beautiful was beautiful, but it can't be (because of the regress). The source of existence can't exist.