A Comparison on The God Teachings of Plotinus and The Early Christian Gnostics

Hayrunnisa Hayta; Hasan Özalp

Makale detayları

A Comparison on The God Teachings of Plotinus and The Early Christian Gnostics

Yazarlar:

Hayrunnisa Hayta | Hasan Özalp

Yayıncı:

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Ana Başlıklar:

Din Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Tokat İlmiyat Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.1-18

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294703

pISSN:

2717-610X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 It is a fact that thoughts interact from time to time in their historical course and as a result, similarities and differences occur. In this study, Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism, and the early period Gnostic Christian movements, which are semi-religious and semi-philosophical thought movements, are subject to a comparative analysis of the God teachings of Basilidenianism, Valentinianism and Marcionism. In this context, we explained Neoplatonism and both the beliefs and thoughts of these movements and tried to identify the similarities and differences between them. Because we think that there are common features between the teachings of Plotinus and the Gnostic thought in terms of God, Divine beings, dualist thought and understanding of the world. However, there are some differences in matters such as the material realm, the Demiurge, the emergence of the realm, its value, rise and fall. Plotinus wrote the Enneads, meaning nines in Greek. II. In Enneads ninth book, he included the Gnostics and criticized their metaphysics and epistemology. Although Plotinus criticizes the Gnostics, there are some important similarities with them. In this context, we believe that some of the claims made by Plotinus towards the early Gnostics are correct and appropriate. We witness that the Gnostics used it to ground and interpret the Platonic thought-provoking Christian faith. In doing so, we can say that they distorted the concepts in Platos thought and moreover, they gave them a mystical form. Therefore, it is possible to say that there are Platonic philosophical concepts in the philosophical background of todays Christian theology, which are relatively distorted or, in the most optimistic way, decontextualized. In particular, problems such as God, the supernatural realm, divine beings, God-nature relationship have a decisive feature in this discussion. It is possible to deal with issues such as pantheism and panentheism, which are frequently discussed in Western thought, in this context and to argue their philosophical and theological roots in the discussions between these groups. The dimensions and depth of this interaction are the subject of a separate study. With this study, we aim to trace the effects of Neoplatonism on subsequent religions and philosophies, and to determine how the understanding of God, which is an important subject of religion and philosophy, was interpreted in two traditions that emerged in the second century. With this research, the doctrine of Supreme Being, One and Emanation, which is accepted as the main vein of Neo-Platonism, is one of the most important intellectual codes for both Plotinus and the early Gnostic groups, both systems bring similar interpretations to dualism in metaphysical matters and are influenced by each other, but in the world of matter, they are quite different from each other. It was concluded that they were separated. In this research, we tried to apply especially to the first type of sources. Due to, Platos own works and Plotinuss Enneads have been an important source of reference for us. We also used qualified secondary sources on Plato and Plotinus. However, since there are not enough original and authentic sources about other Gnostic groups, we have applied to recent sources as much as possible. Recently, Gnostic thought has attracted a lot of attention in academic circles. In this research, we also tried to include academic studies on Gnostics. This research is a source for some of the discussions we have mentioned above. To what extent the Gnostics understood the Platonic philosophy correctly and to what extent they remained faithful to the authentic meanings of the Platonic concepts is another subject of study. The same is true for Plotinus. From this point of view, the extent to which Islamic Peripatetic and Israki philosophers, who were influenced by Plato and Neo Platonism, took part in this interaction and put forward original ideas, is an issue that researchers of Islamic philosophy should focus on.

 It is a fact that thoughts interact from time to time in their historical course and as a result, similarities and differences occur. In this study, Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism, and the early period Gnostic Christian movements, which are semi-religious and semi-philosophical thought movements, are subject to a comparative analysis of the God teachings of Basilidenianism, Valentinianism and Marcionism. In this context, we explained Neoplatonism and both the beliefs and thoughts of these movements and tried to identify the similarities and differences between them. Because we think that there are common features between the teachings of Plotinus and the Gnostic thought in terms of God, Divine beings, dualist thought and understanding of the world. However, there are some differences in matters such as the material realm, the Demiurge, the emergence of the realm, its value, rise and fall. Plotinus wrote the Enneads, meaning nines in Greek. II. In Enneads ninth book, he included the Gnostics and criticized their metaphysics and epistemology. Although Plotinus criticizes the Gnostics, there are some important similarities with them. In this context, we believe that some of the claims made by Plotinus towards the early Gnostics are correct and appropriate. We witness that the Gnostics used it to ground and interpret the Platonic thought-provoking Christian faith. In doing so, we can say that they distorted the concepts in Platos thought and moreover, they gave them a mystical form. Therefore, it is possible to say that there are Platonic philosophical concepts in the philosophical background of todays Christian theology, which are relatively distorted or, in the most optimistic way, decontextualized. In particular, problems such as God, the supernatural realm, divine beings, God-nature relationship have a decisive feature in this discussion. It is possible to deal with issues such as pantheism and panentheism, which are frequently discussed in Western thought, in this context and to argue their philosophical and theological roots in the discussions between these groups. The dimensions and depth of this interaction are the subject of a separate study. With this study, we aim to trace the effects of Neoplatonism on subsequent religions and philosophies, and to determine how the understanding of God, which is an important subject of religion and philosophy, was interpreted in two traditions that emerged in the second century. With this research, the doctrine of Supreme Being, One and Emanation, which is accepted as the main vein of Neo-Platonism, is one of the most important intellectual codes for both Plotinus and the early Gnostic groups, both systems bring similar interpretations to dualism in metaphysical matters and are influenced by each other, but in the world of matter, they are quite different from each other. It was concluded that they were separated. In this research, we tried to apply especially to the first type of sources. Due to, Platos own works and Plotinuss Enneads have been an important source of reference for us. We also used qualified secondary sources on Plato and Plotinus. However, since there are not enough original and authentic sources about other Gnostic groups, we have applied to recent sources as much as possible. Recently, Gnostic thought has attracted a lot of attention in academic circles. In this research, we also tried to include academic studies on Gnostics. This research is a source for some of the discussions we have mentioned above. To what extent the Gnostics understood the Platonic philosophy correctly and to what extent they remained faithful to the authentic meanings of the Platonic concepts is another subject of study. The same is true for Plotinus. From this point of view, the extent to which Islamic Peripatetic and Israki philosophers, who were influenced by Plato and Neo Platonism, took part in this interaction and put forward original ideas, is an issue that researchers of Islamic philosophy should focus on.

 It is a fact that thoughts interact from time to time in their historical course and as a result, similarities and differences occur. In this study, Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism, and the early period Gnostic Christian movements, which are semi-religious and semi-philosophical thought movements, are subject to a comparative analysis of the God teachings of Basilidenianism, Valentinianism and Marcionism. In this context, we explained Neoplatonism and both the beliefs and thoughts of these movements and tried to identify the similarities and differences between them. Because we think that there are common features between the teachings of Plotinus and the Gnostic thought in terms of God, Divine beings, dualist thought and understanding of the world. However, there are some differences in matters such as the material realm, the Demiurge, the emergence of the realm, its value, rise and fall. Plotinus wrote the Enneads, meaning nines in Greek. II. In Enneads ninth book, he included the Gnostics and criticized their metaphysics and epistemology. Although Plotinus criticizes the Gnostics, there are some important similarities with them. In this context, we believe that some of the claims made by Plotinus towards the early Gnostics are correct and appropriate. We witness that the Gnostics used it to ground and interpret the Platonic thought-provoking Christian faith. In doing so, we can say that they distorted the concepts in Platos thought and moreover, they gave them a mystical form. Therefore, it is possible to say that there are Platonic philosophical concepts in the philosophical background of todays Christian theology, which are relatively distorted or, in the most optimistic way, decontextualized. In particular, problems such as God, the supernatural realm, divine beings, God-nature relationship have a decisive feature in this discussion. It is possible to deal with issues such as pantheism and panentheism, which are frequently discussed in Western thought, in this context and to argue their philosophical and theological roots in the discussions between these groups. The dimensions and depth of this interaction are the subject of a separate study. With this study, we aim to trace the effects of Neoplatonism on subsequent religions and philosophies, and to determine how the understanding of God, which is an important subject of religion and philosophy, was interpreted in two traditions that emerged in the second century. With this research, the doctrine of Supreme Being, One and Emanation, which is accepted as the main vein of Neo-Platonism, is one of the most important intellectual codes for both Plotinus and the early Gnostic groups, both systems bring similar interpretations to dualism in metaphysical matters and are influenced by each other, but in the world of matter, they are quite different from each other. It was concluded that they were separated. In this research, we tried to apply especially to the first type of sources. Due to, Platos own works and Plotinuss Enneads have been an important source of reference for us. We also used qualified secondary sources on Plato and Plotinus. However, since there are not enough original and authentic sources about other Gnostic groups, we have applied to recent sources as much as possible. Recently, Gnostic thought has attracted a lot of attention in academic circles. In this research, we also tried to include academic studies on Gnostics. This research is a source for some of the discussions we have mentioned above. To what extent the Gnostics understood the Platonic philosophy correctly and to what extent they remained faithful to the authentic meanings of the Platonic concepts is another subject of study. The same is true for Plotinus. From this point of view, the extent to which Islamic Peripatetic and Israki philosophers, who were influenced by Plato and Neo Platonism, took part in this interaction and put forward original ideas, is an issue that researchers of Islamic philosophy should focus on.

 Düşüncelerin tarihi seyirleri içerisinde zaman zaman etkileşime girdiği ve bunun sonucunda benzerlikler ve farklılıkların oluştuğu bir gerçektir. Bu çalışmada Yeni Platonculuğun kurucusu Plotinus ve yarı dinsel yarı felsefi düşünce hareketi olan erken dönem Gnostik Hıristiyan akımlarından Basilidenyanizm, Valentinyanizm ve Marcionizmin Tanrı öğretilerini karşılaştırmalı bir analize tabi tutmaktır. Bu bağlamda Yeni Platonculuk ve bu akımların hem inanç ve düşüncelerini açıkladık hem de bunlar arasındaki benzerlik ve farklılıkları tespit etmeye çalıştık. Çünkü Plotinusun ortaya koyduğu öğretiler ve Gnostik düşünce arasında Tanrı, İlahi varlıklar, dualist düşünce ve âlem anlayışları bakımından ortak özelliklerin olduğunu düşünüyoruz. Bununla birlikte maddi âlem, Demiurge, âlemin meydana gelişi, değeri, yükseliş ve düşüş gibi konularda bazı farklılıklar bulunmaktadır. Plotinus Yunancada dokuzluklar anlamına gelen Enneadları yazmıştır. II. Enneadın dokuzuncu kitabında Gnostiklere yer vererek onların metafizik ve bilgi kuramlarını eleştirmiştir. Plotinus her ne kadar Gnostikleri eleştirse de onlarla arasında bazı önemli benzerlikler bulunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda Plotinusun erken dönem Gnostiklerine yöneltmiş olduğu bir kısım iddiaların doğru ve yerinde olduğu kanaatindeyiz. Gnostiklerin Platonik düşünceci Hıristiyan inancını temellendirmek ve yorumlamak için kullandıklarına tanıklık ediyoruz. Bunu yaparken Platon düşüncesindeki kavramları çarpıttıklarını ve dahası onlara mistik bir form kazandırdıklarını söyleyebiliriz. Bu sebeple bugünkü Hıristiyan teolojisinin felsefi arka planında nispeten çarpıtılmış veya en iyimser ifadeyle bağlamında koparılmış Platonik felsefi kavramlar olduğunu söylemek mümkündür. Özellikle Tanrı, doğaüstü âlem, kutsal varlıklar, Tanrı-doğa ilişkisi gibi problemler bu tartışmada belirleyici bir nitelik taşımaktadır. Bugün Batı düşüncesinde sıklıkla ele alınan panteizm ve panenteizm gibi konularında bu kapsamda ele alınması ve felsefi ve teolojik kökenlerinin bu guruplar arasındaki tartışmalarda sürülmesi mümkündür. Bu etkileşimin boyutları ve derinliği ayrı bir çalışma konusudur. Bu çalışmayla Yeni Platonculuğun sonraki din ve felsefeler üzerindeki etkilerinin izini sürmek, din ve felsefenin önemli bir konusu olan Tanrı anlayışının ikinci yüzyılda ortaya çıkmış iki gelenekte nasıl yorumlandığını tespit etmeyi amaçlıyoruz. Bu araştırmayla Yeni Platonculuğun ana damarı olarak kabul edilen Yüce varlık, Bir ve Sudur öğretisinin hem Plotinusun hem de ilk dönem Gnostik gruplar için en önemli düşünsel kodlarından olduğu, her iki sistemin metafizik konularda dualizme benzer yorumlar getirdikleri ve etkilenimde bulundukları ancak madde dünyasında birbirinden oldukça ayrıştığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Bu araştırmada özellikle birinci tür kaynaklara müracaat etmeye çalıştık. Bu sebeple özellikle Platonun kendi eserleri ve Plotinusun Enneadları bizim için önemli bir referans kaynağı olmuştur. Ayrıca Platon ve Plotinus üzerine yapılmış nitelikli ikincil kaynakları da kullandık. Bununla birlikte diğer Gnostik guruplarla ilgili yeteri kadar orijinal ve otantik kaynak bulunmadığı için mümkün mertebe yakın dönem kaynaklarına müracaat ettik. Son dönemlerde akademik çevrelerde Gnostik düşünce hayli ilgi görmektedir. Bizde bu araştırmada Gnostikler üzerine yapılmış akademik çalışmalara da yer vermeye çalıştık. Bu araştırma yukarıda ifade ettiğimiz bazı tartışmalara kaynaklık edecek niteliktedir. Gnostiklerin Platonik felsefeyi ne ölçüde doğru anladıkları ve Platonik kavramların otantik anlamlarına ne ölçüde sadık kalıp kalmadıkları ayrı bir çalışma konusudur. Aynı durum Plotinus içinde geçerlidir. Buradan hareketle Platon ve Neo Platonizmden etkilenen İslam Meşşai ve İşraki filozoflarınında bu etkileşimden ne ölçüde pay aldıkları ve özgün fikirler ortaya koydukları da İslam felsefesi araştırmacılarının üzerinde durması gereken bir konudur.

Makale detayları

A Comparison on The God Teachings of Plotinus and The Early Christian Gnostics

Yazarlar:

Hayrunnisa Hayta | Hasan Özalp

Yayıncı:

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Ana Başlıklar:

Din Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Tokat İlmiyat Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.1-18

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294703

pISSN:

2717-610X

Islamic Philosophy

Plotinus

Neoplatonism

Gnosticism

Basilidenianism

Valentinianism

Marcionism.İslam Felsefesi

Plotinus

Yeni Platonculuk

Gnostisizm

Basilidenyanizm

Valentinyanizm

Marcionizm.

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Hayrunnisa Hayta | Hasan Özalp

Yayıncı: Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Ana Başlıklar: Din Araştırmaları

Dergi: Tokat İlmiyat Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.1-18

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2023

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001294703

pISSN: 2717-610X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Hayrunnisa Hayta | Hasan Özalp

Yayıncı:

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Ana Başlıklar:

Din Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Tokat İlmiyat Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.1-18

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294703

pISSN:

2717-610X