Enneads IV 2: On the Essence of the Soul (2)

[sdi]

IV 2: On the Essence of the Soul (2)

We have said that the nature of Soul is division, but let us be more precise. It is the nature of bodies (not Matter itself, but imprinted upon Matter) to be divided, since they stand opposite to the One, Whose nature is unity. It is Soul that bridges this gap, and so it must, in fact, possess both natures: it is both unified and divided at once. This division is not, however, because Soul is cut up into many pieces, but rather that it is clothed in many bodies; but it is the bodies, and not Soul, that is divided. And so we can see that there is a smooth continuum from top to bottom: the One is one, Soul is one in many, souls are many as one, and bodies are strictly many.

It was nice to have a few short tractates to rest myself upon, but the next will like as not take me awhile, as it is three times as long as average!