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Select Works of Plotinus · 274 of 752 · tr. Thomas Taylor

Select Works, Section 264 (part 2)

This brings us to the fact that, in a certain sense, the Movement, the orbit of the universe, may legitimately be said to measure Time- in so far as that is possible at all- since any definite stretch of that circuit occupies a certain quantity of Time, and this is the only grasp we have of Time, our only understanding of it: what that circuit measures- by indication, that is- will be Time, manifested by the Movement but not brought into being by it. This means that the measure of the Spheric Movement has itself been measured by a definite stretch of that Movement and therefore is something different; as measure, it is one thing and, as the measured, it is another; [its being measure or] its being measured cannot be of its essence. We are no nearer knowledge than if we said that the foot-rule measures Magnitude while we left the concept Magnitude undefined; or, again, we might as well define Movement- whose limitlessness puts it out of our reach- as the thing measured by Space; the definition would be parallel since we can mark off a certain space which the Movement has traversed and say the one is equivalent to the other.
Themes
◆Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The Higher is described by negation of spatial and temporal categories such as 'extent', 'interval', and 'succession'.

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◆Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The text establishes a mirroring relationship ('over against that... there must be') between the Intellectual Realm and the Soul.

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◆Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

The text refers to the divine principle as a 'Higher life' and 'Authentic Existent', implying dynamic presence.

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◆Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The lesser life is described as 'working towards the increase of its Being' to reproduce the Higher, indicating an upward movement.

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◆Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

The Soul's goal is to 'imitate' and 'reproduce' the Being of the Higher, aligning with deification through participation.

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◇Divine Simplicitytheology

The doctrine that God has no parts, divisions, or composite attributes; pure undivided being.

[auto] The passage centrally describes the Higher as 'oneness without extent or interval' and a 'Whole in concentration', emphasizing undivided being.

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◇Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

[auto] The text contrasts a 'higher life' and 'Intellectual Soul' with a 'lesser' life and 'partial phase', indicating a structured descent of being.

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◇Monadcosmology

The absolutely simple, undivided first principle from which all multiplicity and existence flows.

[auto] References to 'that oneness' and 'the One hold' suggest the presence of a simple first principle from which multiplicity flows.

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◇Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The lesser is described as 'working towards the increase of its Being' and becoming a Whole 'by stages', implying an upward journey.

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◇Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

[auto] The passage focuses heavily on 'oneness', 'Whole', and the reproduction of the Higher's unity by the lesser.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 11 (part 8)
“Neither is God measurable, and there has no place of residence been discovered in Him, unless He should establish for Himself such a dwelling in one of His creatures; but even then He remains a whole apart from and beyond such a created bei…”
Both passages discuss the concept of the immeasurability and transcendence of divine entities. Passage A explores the idea of time and movement in relation to the universe, while Passage B discusses the immeasurability of God and Christ, drawing parallels with the sun. Both texts use analogies to explain the relationship between the divine and the created world.
◆western_esoteric|Tertium Organum (P.D. Ouspensky)|Chapter XIII (part 8)
“They may vary infinitely, i.e., may seem various, ever new from some new standpoint, but they cannot utterly vanish, any more than they can cease, come to an end. All that is highest to which we shall come in the understanding of the meani…”
Both passages explore the idea of higher understanding and the relativity of perception. They discuss the limitations of human knowledge and the possibility of a more comprehensive view from a higher standpoint, emphasizing the dynamic and interconnected nature of reality.