Problems of the lower soul in Plotinus: Defining its powers and its origin

Abstract

AbstractAlthough there is no real distinction in the soul in the metaphysics of Plotinus, discussing the activities of the individual souls, he does distinguish between higher and lower soul. Reading the Enneads, however, we face at least two major problems concerning the two kinds of soul. (i) Given that Plotinus uses the faculty psychology as well, how can we establish the border between the two kinds of soul in respect of the psychic powers? (ii) Some texts tell us that the lower soul stems from the higher soul, while others trace back to the World Soul. Does Plotinus necessarily have an inconsistent view on the lower soul's origin, or can we reconcile the two views somehow? First, I will present these two issues in more detail and their two main interpretations. Then, I am going to analyse passages of various topics, such as the emergence of desire (IV. 4 [28] 20), the possible extent of purification (I. 2 [19] 5), and the effect of magic on the soul (IV. 4 [28] 43–44). I shall argue that the crucial difference between the two kinds of soul is the ability to make free choices, which allows us to distinguish them in terms of psychic activities. On the basis of this, I intend to show that the lower soul does not originate from the World Soul strictly speaking. Instead, Plotinus uses this claim to demonstrate that certain aspects of us, including some psychic activities as well as moral character and practical life in general, cannot be under our rational control entirely, but they are subjected to the necessity of the cosmos.