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14 - Matter and Evil

from Part V - Ethics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2022

By
Jan Opsomer
Edited by
Lloyd Gerson  and
James Wilberding
Lloyd Gerson
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
James Wilberding
Affiliation:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
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Summary

Bad things happen in an imperfect world. This, and in particular the fact that they happen to our souls, was a matter of great concern for Plotinus. Near the end of his life, when he was already severely ill, Plotinus wrote a treatise On What Evils Are and Where They Come From (1.8 [51]).1 The text picks up themes and arguments discussed in several other works and will serve as the basis for our discussion of Plotinus’ views on badness. In his view, matter is primary evil and the cause for badness in souls and bodies.

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The New Cambridge Companion to Plotinus , pp. 341 - 362
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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