Neoplatonism

Neoplatonism, school of philosophical thought, founded by the Greek philosopher Plotinus, influenced by the late writings of Plato. This mystical belief, popular from the 3rd through the 6th centuries, was based on the concept of emanation—a process by which an essential sense of things permeates different levels of existence. A diagram of these levels would show the One, that incomprehensible thing beyond being, as uppermost, emanating through to the Logos or intellect, where ideas reign, then to the World Soul, where the intellect and the material world are linked, and finally to the lowest level, the Material, the level from which humanity begins. Philosophers ranging from St. Augustine (3rd-4th century) to St. Thomas Aquinas before his conversion to Christianity (13th century) to G.W.F. Hegel (19th century) were influenced by neoplatonism.

See also: Plato; Plotinus.