Sacred Texts: The Classics

The Enneads of Plotinus: THE FOURTH ENNEAD: EIGHTH TRACTATE: Section 5

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5. It is possible to reconcile all these apparent contradictions- the divine sowing to birth, as opposed to a voluntary descent aiming at the completion of the universe; the judgement and the cave; necessity and free choice- in fact the necessity includes the choice-embodiment as an evil; the Empedoclean teaching of a flight from God, a wandering away, a sin bringing its punishment; the "solace by flight" of Heraclitus; in a word a voluntary descent which is also voluntary. All degeneration is…

The Enneads of Plotinus: THE FOURTH ENNEAD: EIGHTH TRACTATE: Section 5

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