Plotino Critico dell'Analogia

In the tripartite treatise On the Genera of Being (vi.1-3 [42-44]) Plotinus rejects the view that the genera which pertain to the physical world of becoming are analogous to those in intelligible being (vi.3.2). Plotinus’ position apparently raises some problems, since it seems to be at odds with a characteristic view of Platonism, i.e. that there is a relation of correspondence or analogy between bodies and their intelligible principles. This article aims to show that Plotinus’ critical attitude about analogy is consistent with his metaphysical views. Plotinus contends that analogy is a dangerous procedure, since it leads to extend the characteristic properties of bodies to their essential and incorporeal principles. So intelligible beings and bodies should be conceived of as heterogeneous.