neo-platonism
C2academic, formal, historical
Definition
Meaning
A philosophical system developed in the 3rd century AD by Plotinus and his followers, interpreting and developing Plato's ideas with mystical, spiritual, and metaphysical elements.
Any later revival or reinterpretation of Platonic thought, particularly those emphasizing a hierarchical structure of reality, the transcendence of The One or the Good, and the soul's ascent from the material world to the divine.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to the post-classical school of late antiquity (Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus). Can be used more broadly for Renaissance or modern revivals (e.g., Cambridge Platonists). Not synonymous with Plato's original works.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Both variants accept the hyphenated 'neo-Platonism' and the unhyphenated 'Neoplatonism'. The capital 'N' in 'Neoplatonism' is slightly more common in American academic publishing.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects: highly specialized, historical-philosophical.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Exclusively used in academic contexts (philosophy, classics, history of ideas, theology). No discernible regional frequency difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + draws on + neo-Platonism[Subject] + is influenced by + neo-Platonism[Subject] + synthesises + [Philosophy] + with + neo-PlatonismThe philosophy of + neo-Platonism + [Verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is strictly technical and does not feature in idiomatic expressions.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Frequently used in philosophy, classics, history of ideas, religious studies, and art history to denote the late antique school and its revivals.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used precisely to distinguish post-Plotinian developments from the philosophy of Plato himself (often capitalised as 'Neoplatonism').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The poet's work subtly **neo-platonises** the natural world, seeing it as an emanation of the divine.
American English
- Some scholars argue that the medieval theologian **Neoplatonized** Christian doctrine.
adverb
British English
- He interpreted the myth **neo-Platonically**, as an allegory for the soul's journey.
American English
- The concept is understood **Neoplatonically** within that tradition.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable for A2 level).
- 'Neo-platonism' is a word you might read in a history book about ancient philosophy.
- Renaissance artists were sometimes influenced by neo-Platonic ideas about beauty and the divine.
- The treatise attempts to reconcile Aristotelian logic with a fundamentally neo-Platonic metaphysics, positing a single transcendent source from which all reality emanates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: NEO (new) + PLATO (the philosopher) + NISM (system). A 'new' system based on Plato, developed centuries later.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHILOSOPHY IS A BUILDING ('the edifice of neo-Platonism'), ASCENT IS ENLIGHTENMENT ('the soul's ascent in neo-Platonic thought'), LIGHT IS DIVINE ('the neo-Platonic metaphor of emanation from the One, the source of light').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct calquing may lead to 'неоплатонизм', which is the correct equivalent. No trap. It's a learned loanword with identical meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with Plato's original works. Using it to describe any idealistic philosophy. Misspelling as 'neo-platonistism'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a central concept in neo-Platonism?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Neo-Platonism is a later development (3rd century AD onwards) that interprets and expands upon Plato's ideas, adding strong mystical, theological, and systematic metaphysical elements not explicitly present in Plato's original dialogues.
Plotinus (c. 204/5–270 AD) is considered the founder of the neo-Platonic school. His works, the Enneads, compiled by his student Porphyry, are its foundational texts.
Early Christian theologians like Augustine of Hippo were influenced by neo-Platonic concepts, such as the immateriality of God, the hierarchy of being, and the soul's yearning for a transcendent good, which they adapted into a Christian framework.
Both 'neo-Platonism' (with hyphen) and 'Neoplatonism' (without hyphen, often capitalized) are accepted. Style guides may differ, but the unhyphenated, capitalized form is standard in many academic fields.