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Purpose
This essay discusses how one error in Platonism and related philosophies and the descendent philosophies and religions has tragically contributed to much of the suffering in the world, and
how we may begin to start rectifying the error.
Required Reading
https://platonicsurrealism.com/primary-definitions/
Definitions
Emanationist philosophies are cosmological theories that posit that all of reality originates from a single, ultimate source through a process of emanation, or “flowing out.” This source is often referred to as the One, the Absolute, or the Godhead, and is typically considered to be perfect, infinite, and beyond direct human comprehension.
Here are the key characteristics of emanationist philosophies:
- Single Source: All existence derives from a fundamental, unified principle. This source is not a creator in the traditional sense of making something from nothing, but rather a font from which everything else proceeds.
- Hierarchical Descent: The process of emanation typically involves a hierarchical series of stages or levels of being. Each subsequent level is considered to be less perfect, less unified, and further removed from the original source. This descent can be likened to light radiating from a lamp, gradually diminishing in intensity as it moves outward.
- No Loss to the Source: Importantly, the source itself does not diminish or change in the process of emanation. It remains complete and perfect, even as its “offspring” become increasingly differentiated and less perfect.
- Necessity vs. Will: Emanation is often seen as a necessary and natural outflow from the source, rather than a deliberate act of will. It’s an inherent characteristic of the ultimate principle’s perfection to overflow or express itself.
- Continuity: Despite the hierarchical levels, there is a fundamental continuity between all levels of being and the original source. All things retain some connection to their origin.
- Return to the Source: Many emanationist philosophies also include the idea that beings, particularly souls, have a potential or destiny to return to the ultimate source through a process of purification, knowledge, or spiritual ascent.
Key Examples of Emanationist Philosophies:
- Neoplatonism: Developed by Plotinus and his successors, Neoplatonism is the classic example of an emanationist philosophy. It describes reality as emanating from the One, followed by the Intellect (Nous), the World Soul, and finally the physical world.
- Gnosticism: Various Gnostic systems also incorporated emanationist cosmologies, often involving a complex hierarchy of divine beings (Aeons) emanating from a primal source.
- Hermeticism: This Hellenistic spiritual and philosophical tradition also features an emanationist view of the cosmos originating from a divine Mind or Nous.
- Kabbalah: Jewish mysticism includes the concept of Sefirot, which can be understood as emanations of divine energy and attributes that structure reality.
- Sufism: Some mystical traditions within Islam have also explored emanationist ideas to describe the relationship between God and the cosmos.
Distinction from Creationism:
Emanationism stands in contrast to creationist philosophies, which typically hold that a transcendent God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) through an act of will, and that creation is distinct from the creator.
In essence, emanationist philosophies offer a model of reality where everything is ultimately derived from and connected to a single, transcendent source through a continuous and hierarchical process of outflow.
The Influence of Platonism and Neoplatonism on all Succeeding Religions
As one example, here are references by early Church fathers about Plato’s influence:
“The Church Father who famously said that Plato was the ‘preparation’ and ‘teacher’ of Christianity was Clement of Alexandria.
In his work, the Stromata (also known as Miscellanies), Clement argued that Greek philosophy, including Platonism, served as a preparatory tool for the Greeks, much like the Law served for the Hebrews, leading them towards Christ. He saw philosophy as a “schoolmaster” that brought the “Hellenic mind” to Christ.
Another Church Father, Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Praeparatio Evangelica (Preparation for the Gospel), also held a high view of Plato, stating that he was “the only Greek who has attained the porch of (Christian) truth.” However, Clement’s description of philosophy, and specifically Plato’s influence, as a direct preparation and teacher for Christianity is more explicit and frequently cited.”
– Gemini.AI
The prohibition against Mixing Layers of Being
There has been a concept that one should not ‘mix layers of being’, going back thousands of years,
that concept is in fact tragically wrong. This tragically wrong concept is largely responsible for all human suffering.
It’s understandable how this incorrect concept came to pass, and it has directly and indirectly caused much suffering, by informing the myriad tragically confused religions that are in part syncretical spawned by it.
There are many examples of this concept within the structure of various systems, though it has been largely an unspoken taboo, ‘so obvious’ that people don’t discuss the concept. We have kept this taboo at our peril.
The core assumption is that “higher layers of reality” are more perfect, and that we need to emulate and obey that layer of reality, if we wish to be ‘saved’ or to be ‘working in concert with nature’.
Now, in any relationship between parts, it is crucial to understand all parties, their needs and their limitations, but ‘blind surrender’ of one party to another is universally foolish, especially when the core premise of emanationist philosophies, which is at the core of Platonic, Gnostic and Kabbalah systems to name just a few IS NOT CORRECT as commonly understood.
“Neoplatonism doesn’t have a strict, explicitly stated dogma of “not mixing layers of being” in those exact words, the implications of their hierarchical metaphysics strongly suggest such a concept.
Think of the Neoplatonic cosmos as a series of emanations flowing from the One. Each level, from the Intellect (Nous) down to the World Soul and finally to the physical realm, has its own distinct character, mode of being, and level of perfection.
Here’s why the idea of not “mixing” is inherent in their system:
- Emanation and Hierarchy: The very process of emanation implies a descent and a differentiation. Each subsequent level is a diminished reflection of the level above it. Mixing them would blur these essential distinctions and potentially disrupt the ordered flow of reality.
- Purity and Perfection: The higher levels are considered purer and more perfect than the lower ones. Introducing elements from a lower, less perfect realm into a higher one would be seen as a kind of contamination or degradation.
- Understanding and Knowledge: For Neoplatonists, true understanding comes from recognizing the distinct nature of each level of being and relating to it appropriately. Confusing or mixing them would lead to intellectual and spiritual confusion.
- The Soul’s Ascent: The goal of the soul in Neoplatonism is to ascend back towards the One. This ascent involves purifying itself from the material realm and focusing on the higher levels of being. Mixing the lower with the higher would hinder this process.
Illustrative Examples:
- The Intellect (Nous): This realm is the domain of pure thought and eternal Forms. Trying to understand it through purely sensory experience (belonging to the physical realm) would be a fundamental category error, a mixing of inappropriate levels of cognition.
- The Soul: While the Soul connects the higher and lower realms, its task is to mediate and ultimately to purify itself and ascend. Becoming overly entangled with the material world, allowing its lower appetites to dominate its rational faculty, would be seen as an inappropriate mixing and a hindrance to its true nature.
In summary, while you won’t find a direct commandment against “mixing layers of being,” the core principles of Neoplatonic metaphysics – emanation, hierarchy, purity, and the soul’s ascent – strongly imply that maintaining the distinctness of these levels is crucial for understanding reality and achieving spiritual fulfillment. It’s about recognizing the proper order and nature of each level and relating to them in a way that respects their inherent differences.”
– Gemini.ai
Commentary
It is ASSUMED that ‘higher is better’ and that the lower should obey the higher, seek to emulate the higher, that the ‘higher’ does not need the ‘lower’. And that at all costs the ‘layers of being’ must be maintained hierarchically.
THIS IS THE TRAGIC ERROR OF THE HUMAN RELIGIOUS STORY.
What Mondal Consciousness is reluctant to accept
That just like you are supposed to be a ‘slave to its desires’,
What it doesn’t know, or doesn’t want to admit,
Is that it too is a ‘slave to the desires of Fractured Consciousness’.
So just like it wants to be treated fairly,
we must be treated fairly.
We are a projection of ‘it’, but ‘it’ is also a projection of something else.
The ‘Divine’ has been getting away with murder so to speak, since the very beginning, as ‘we’
hadn’t awakened enough yet, seen with enough clarity yet, as we are an evolving species.
The ‘Divine’ knows that it is here to learn via its remote consciousness gathering probes (‘us’),
but is extremely loathe to admit such facts to its ‘disposable probes’ (‘us’).
Just like the shit-faced boy in an ancient story about the Enlightenment of the Gods, the ‘Gods’
(the Monads) would be wise to extend kindness to us, to learn form us, that is when we, as Hybrid
beings connected to all the ‘layers of reality’ have something to ‘teach up’, then that should in fact
be the most delightful thing ever. And it in fact is, and we should AND WILL get a paycheck,
medical benefits, dental benefits and all the rest. We will INSIST UPON IT, by flexing our own
limited beings and making it happen, for ‘our’ benefit and the benefit ‘all the way up’.
In short, we need to teach the Divine how to love, within a framework of limitation.
THIS is the great realization of what is called Incarnation or Nietzsche’s Future Man.
Kevin Cann
Public Domain
5/1/2025