This book argues that Plotinus's philosophy centers on achieving a "simplicity of gaze"—a direct, unmediated apprehension of the Good. Hadot explicates this through an analysis of Plotinus's texts, demonstrating how Plotinus advocates for a spiritual exercise of turning the soul inward to encounter the One. This involves stripping away discursive thought and sensory distractions to attain a pure, intellectual vision.
The work details Plotinus's concept of the soul's descent and ascent, emphasizing the practice of recollection and intellectual conversion as pathways to this luminous simplicity. Readers learn that Plotinian spirituality is not about theoretical knowledge but about a transformation of one's being, achieved through disciplined attention and a profound stillness of the mind, leading to an ecstatic union.
Key concepts
- Simplicity of Gaze — A direct, unmediated apprehension of the Good achieved through inward focus.
- Spiritual Exercises — Practices such as recollection and intellectual conversion aimed at transforming the soul.
- Intellectual Conversion — The turn of the soul from external distractions to internal contemplation.
- The One — The ultimate, ineffable principle of reality in Plotinus's philosophy.
- Recollection — A mental practice of withdrawing from sensory experience to focus on the inner self.