Aristotle and Plotinus on being and unity

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ARISTOTLE AND PLOTINUS ON BEING AND UNITY

BY GEOFFREY SCOTT BOWE, B.A(HONS), M . A .

A

Thesis

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies

in Partial Fuifilment of the Requirements f o r t h e Degree Doctor of Philosophy

McMaster University O Copyright by Geoffrey S c o t t Bowe, September 1997

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ARISTOTLE AND PLOTINUS ON BEING AND UNITY

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (1997) ( Philosophy)

McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario

TITLE: Aristotle and Plotinus on ~ e h g and Unity

BUSHOR: Geoffrey S c o t t Bowe, B . A . (Hons) (Mernorial University of Newfoundland), M.A. (University of Windsor) SUPERVISOR: Dr. S. Panagiotou

Number of pages: vi, 339

DEDICATION For my p a r e n t s , who t a u g h t me, and c o n t i n u e to teach me about k i n d n e s s , decency, hard work, and respect. W i thou t their support 1 could not have done this. W i t h o u t their love it means no t h i n g .

iii

This dissertation discusses how being and unity are related in the metaphysical systems of Aristotle and Plotinus. 1 suggest that Aristotle's metaphysical position contrasts with what I cal1 the Platonic metaphysical hierarchy, a general trend io Platonism to place being in a dependent relationship to unity, and particular things in a dependent relationship to being. Aristotle, by contrast, sees being and unity as dependent on particulars. Understanding Aristotle against the backdrop of the Platonic metaphysical hierarchy is of some assistance in understanding his critique of Plato, and his own position in the Metaphysics regarding substance, cosmology and first principles. Aristotle's Unmoved Mover is substance par excellence, and stands as an exemplary cause for the First Moved Mover, guaranteeing the motion necessary for the generation of other particulars, but it does not provide them with being and unity. This is because being and unity are dependent on, and logically posterior to, particulars. 1 also examine some of the difficulties in Aristotlets system which Plotinus takes up in the Enneads. Plotinus, in trying to remain true to his understanding Platonism, rejects Aristoteiianism, and posits instead, a revised version of the Platonic metaphysical hierarchy. In addition to examining Plotinus' critique of Aristotle, 1 examine some of Plotinus' O ther influences. These include Parmenides, Plato, Albinus and Numenius, :n order to provide some grounding in understanding Plotinus' own philosophy. I conclude with an examination of Plotinus' metaphysics that shows Fts consistency with the general direction of Platonism, if in a different. hypostatic system. Plotinus' first principle, the One, is a synergy of negative and positive theology, grounded in the belief that being and thinking are extensionally the same in his second principle, Nous. That being and thinking are multiple necessitates the positing of a principle of unity which is ' E m K E L v a t q ouoitr~, ~ " (beyond being) a phrase which Plotinus takes over from Platois Republic in the service of his own philosophy .

gratefully acknowledge the encouragement and guidance of my supervisor, Dr. Spiro Panagioutou, without whose patience and help the preparation of this thesis would n o t have been possible. My second reader, Professor Brian Calvert from the University of Guelph provided knowledgeable and insightful comments on drafts of the thesis which were invaluable. 1 am also greatly indebted to Dr. Constantine Georgiadis, whose kindness and willingness to take up the position of third yeader l a t e in the production of the thesis were extremely generous. In addition, Dr. David Hitchcock's comments on the first half of the thesis were remarkably a s t u t e and detailed, and 1 am very grateful for his advice. The reference staff at Robarts Library at the University of Toronto was also extremely h e l p f u l . 1 should also thank Dr. Wil Waluchow, Philosophy Department Head, for other assistances rendered. A special note of thanks is owed t o Mr. Brian Hendrix, who provided logistical support while 1 was in South Korea. 1

TABIIE: OF CONTENTS

~ntroduction

PART 1 1

-

- ARISTOTLE

The Platonic Metaphysical Hierarchy

II - Being and Unity III - Movers IV - Theology or Ontology PART II

-

PLOTINWS

~ntroduction to Plotinus

v VI

Plato and Parmenides

- Developments in Platonism

VI1 - Aristotle VI11

-

"AxiornsMof Unity

IX - Unity

PART 1

- ARISTûTLE

CHAPTER I

-

The Platonic Metaphysical Hierarchy

1. Introduction

In this f i r s t chapter, 1 want ts look at some of the cornments Aristotle makes in his criticism of Plato, primarily in Book A of the Metaphysics, but also in N. I will attempt first to identify and explain what I cal1

the "Platonic metaphysical hierarchy" that conceptual

scheme

which

Aristotle

seems

to

attribute

to

the

Platonists.' This "metaphysical hierarchy" places being

in a dependent relation to unity, and particulars in a dependent relation to being. From there I identify three main concerns:

kosmos) ,

2)

1) first principles metaphysics

(being

(the order of the

and

the

unity

of

k i v e n the cwnbersome nature of the investigation, it is more efficient for my purposes to refer to the o b j e c t of Aristotle' s critique as "Platonism," instead of distinguishing between Plato and the Platonists. Aristotle does make distinctions between the two; he talks about an "original theory of formsInmeaning presurnably Plato, and he refers to Speusippus and Xenocrates, and "the Platonists." Since 1 am dealing with conceptual schemes, the distinctions are (for the most part) less important than they might otherwise be. To my mind, Aris totle' s conceptual scheme is incornmensurate with al1 of these people or positions, and al1 of these people or positions are, to a greater or lesser degree thinking in termç of the Platonic metaphysical hierarchy.

3

particulars) and 3) physics (motion and change) . These concerns are significant for my project of identifying Aristotle's own metaphysical scheme, which 1 cal1 loosely ltconvertibility." In Aristotle's scheme, being and unity are on equal metaphysical footing ( L e . they do not stand in a hierarchical relation to one another), and both stand in a dependent relationship

to particulars.

Of the three concerns which 1 identify, the first deals directly with the implications of the Platonic

metaphysical hierarchy, and the second two deal with the separation

'

( X W ~ L G ~ O ~ that )

the Platonic metaphysical

hierarchy involves, and the necessity of participation as

(@E~L