Neoplatonic Virtue: Plotinus on the Soul's Cosmic Role
Yitzchok Lowy and I discuss chapters 1 and 2 of Ennead III.4 "On Our Allotted Spirit". In these chapters Plotinus sets up the premise of his investigation into the daimon, namely that the Soul through its choices and transmigration is the cause of the whole diversity of beings in the cosmos. This brings up questions about what is a soul, in what sense does it choose and whether Plotinus espouses or undermines a nature/culture divide. Furthermore, Plotinus here, unlike (apparently) other texts espouses transmigration into plants.