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Neoplatonic

Neoplatonic

9.9
A person who believes all things come from one spiritual source based on Plato's ideas
  • noun
  • /ˌniːoʊˈpleɪtɪk/
  • Specialized
: neoplatonista
  • Many medieval philosophers were influenced by Neoplatonic ideas about the nature of the soul.

Examples

  • As a Neoplatonic, he believed in the existence of a single source from which all reality emanates.

  • The Neoplatonic argued that true knowledge comes from spiritual insight rather than sensory experience.

  • A Neoplatonic view of reality emphasizes the importance of the One.

  • Many Neoplatonic philosophers contributed to the debate on metaphysics.

  • Many scholars consider Plotinus to be the founder of the Neoplatonic movement, influencing countless thinkers throughout history.

  • As a Neoplatonic, she often explored the interconnectedness of the material and spiritual worlds through her writings.

  • His Neoplatonic views on ethics emphasize the importance of aligning one's life with the ultimate source of goodness.

Synonyms

Platonist
vsNeoplatonic
2 9.1

A person who follows Plato's idea that perfect forms exist

is more specific, referring to the later Plato-influenced philosophical movement
Neoplatonist
vsNeoplatonic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person who follows later ideas based on Plato about spiritual reality

is the same meaning but uses a different word form for the person

Surface Forms

Neoplatonic singular
Neoplatonics plural

Morphology

Neoplatonic = Platonic (transparent) = neo + Plato + ic

The noun sense is closely tied to the adjective 'Neoplatonic' (formed by 'neo-' + 'Platonic'); the composition 'neo-' + 'Platonic' is directly inferable to learners.

Etymology

A Neoplatonic comes from the parts neo- meaning 'new' and Platonic from Plato. It means a person who follows a 'new' version of Plato's teaching, often looking for spiritual truth rather than only the physical world.