Neoplatonic metaphysical concept — developed most fully by Plotinus in the Enneads (3rd century CE) — describing reality as hierarchically flowing outward from the One (the ultimate unity) through Nous (divine intellect) and Soul into matter — the most influential non-creation metaphysics in Western philosophy.
Creates the most systematic non-theistic metaphysics of divine origin — Plotinus's emanation (the One overflows out of its perfection, generating Nous, which generates Soul, which generates the material world) provides an alternative to both creation ex nihilo and pure materialism; its influence on Christian theology (Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius), Islamic philosophy (Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina), and Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) is decisive.
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