Remarks on the Spoudaios in Plotinus
Who is the Plotinian spoudaios and what is his function in the Enneads? This question turns out to be fundamental, especially when trying to make out an ethical dimension in Plotinus. Treatise I 4 [46] offers, concerning that question, not only the longest sustained discussion of the spoudaios, but also shows how highly problematic it is to figure out more precisely his characteristics. This is due to the terminological ambiguity with the term sophos, which is also the reason why the two terms are often considered synonymous by translators. It appears in I 4 that this ambiguity is closely related to the question of aisthesis. And this is also perhaps the main problematic point concerning the
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In a search for specifical studies on the spoudaios in Plotinus, it appears that there aren't any, beside Heiser's remarks(1) which are based on the conception that the spoudaios is indeed already and fully an accomplished sage.(2)
Other studies on the spoudaios—and they are rare—refer mainly to the Aristotelian connotation of this term;(3) yet, it is indeed in and with Aristotle that the spoudaios obtains his specifical sense. Therefore, before trying to show who the Plotinian spoudaios is, a brief analysis of this term seems not only helpful but also necessary.
2. Brief etymological analysis
According to the LSJ(4) spoudaios (spoude) originally meant being in haste, quick, (for a person) being earnest, serious, zealous, and changed gradually to good, excellent, the sense of good becomming more and more a moral character, making therefore spoudaios synonymous with agathon. Not only is spoudaios used for persons, it can also describe things being worth serious attention, weighty, but also good and excellent in their kind.(5)
Generally one can say that this term made a transformation from a more outer description of being serious, to a more inner quality of moral virtue and goodness.
3. The spoudaios in Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics
3.1. Plato
While spoude occurs frequently in Plato, mostly opposed to paidia,(6) the term of
To conclude, the efforts to use moral enhancement to further empower human virtues that help provide moral
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A “tragedy, for Shakespeare, is the genre of uncompensated suffering” (Dutton and Howard, 2003, p. 9). To really understand the play Othello is to truly understand a tragedy; thus, this researcher will analyze Aristotle’s view point and compare it to phrases (or quotes) from Shakespeare’s Othello.
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Theseus has many changes in his character throughout his adventures. These developments in his mindset lead him from being a depressed, weak child, to a strong leader that many look up to.
From a rather humble beginning Lucius Cornelius Sulla rose to become a great politician and a powerful general in the Roman Republic. As a general, Sulla lead Roman armies to many victories. As a politician he became a powerful dictator and yet was responsible for bringing about many reforms. This essay will prove how he was a great dictator, politician and general, through discussing his background, his military and political career, his dictatorship, and his accomplishments in his later years.
Plutarch outlines that Tiberius and his brother Gaius were ``the most gifted young men of their generation in Rome, their education was generally held to have a played a more important part than nature in forming their qualities.'' Plutarch further emphasises the prominence of Tiberius by stating, "Soon after reaching maturity, his fame was great enough to earn him entry into the so-called priesthood of augurs, an honor he owed to his excellence, rather than to his noble birth."
the inventor of the bridle, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow,
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In this thesis, I will be arguing that Socrates argument against Ion is effective to say the least for it highlights clearly that Ion has no account of knowledge but rather acquires his mastery skill through some divinely inspired activity. To develop this position further I will punctiliously examine the image of the Heraclean stone and its significance in furnishing this position of repudiation. Though this may appear a straightforward approach and perhaps one that can be left unarticulated, perceiving from this view of knowledge. One could however, argue that this is a rather extraneous attack on Ion's profession for it adds no detriment to his career in propounding the truth. The inspiration theory thus can be deemed as suffering no sifnificant flaws insofar as bringing the truth. But I guess the wider currency of this anti-position gains recognition if we conceive of Ion put in a position of interrogation by the audience; how would he seek to clarify ones state of discrepancy. It is here I believe Socrates
In the various discussions of imitative art there has been a notable disagreement between two distinguished philosophers; Plato and Aristotle. Although it was Plato who first discussed the concept of imitative art, it is my belief that Aristotle was justified in his praise and admiration of imitative art, specifically, the tragic drama. In my discussion on the two philosophers’ dissertations I will begin with the ideas of Plato and his position and requirements for imitative art and its respected uses, after which I will discuss the ideas of Aristotle to show that the tragic
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Reading through three related stories, we discover different motifs denoting author’s thought in different time.Without any doubt, the tragic essence goes through the Three Theban Plays. As Sophocles meditates the philosophy of the tragedy all along his life, the tragic essence expands from individuals in a society. The conflict in each play becomes increasingly complicated. In Antigone, we can clearly distinguish the conflict between Antigone and Creon, family and politics. However, in Oedipus at Colonus, the play merges all the conflicts happened to former plays and enhances the theme of the story. The later part of this trilogy, especially the ending of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, reveals a darker and deeper phenomenon of Thebes and projects it to Oedipus. The prophet plays important role of forming the story line and tragic image of Oedipus, but the root causing the series of tragedy of the characters is not gods’ command. It is degeneration of people, which is pathetic to humanity. Finally, after suffering from family complex and exile, Oedipus is not only a victim of the society, but also the reflection of the twisted humanity of Thebes.
Oedipus did not have a fair start in life. His father, Laius, heard prophecy that Oedipus would one day kill his father and sleep with his mother. In order to prevent this, Laius gave Oedipus to a shepherd to be killed. Fortunately, through a string of events, Oedipus's life was saved, and he even went on to become the honored king of Thebes. Despite this feat, Oedipus still managed to make several decisions that ultimately fulfilled the original prophecy told to Laius, and inevitably sealed Oedipus?s fate.
Thesis: In Sophocles’ “Oedipus”, Oedipus is exemplified as a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition because his story appeals to the reader’s humanity in the way he maintains his strengths after inadvertently causing his own downfall.