A Plotinian Platonist Theurgy: Seeking Critical Discourse
First off.
We need to define what we mean by Theurgy.
And then we need to outline what'd be considered a Plotinian Platonist Perspective as such.
And taking the answers to the aforementioned into consideration we'd be able to outline what'd be a Plotinian Platonist "Theurgy".
Now. What is Theurgy?
I am going to define theurgy as activity as such that is partaken in in an institutionalized manner (ritual with daily prescriptions) that partakes in activities like invocation and supplication to elicit supernatural aid.
The aid is for awareness (knowledge) and directive (based on knowledge that one receives). Supernatural invocation to know and guidance to be.
Alright. Now what'd be a Plotinian Platonist Perspective?
A Plotinian Platonist Perspective would be one that claims that what is referred by the concepts The One, The Intellect, Forms, The Soul, and The Hyle are actual realities. They have ontology (being/ways of existing). And they explain why existence is the way it is. Such Metaphysics (what is unchangingly the case about existence) may be known via immediate experience. And via such perspective comes perspective about psychology, ethics, and what is beautiful & good. Thus, initiative for spirituality (how one is to be) following via the awareness of the aforementioned. One becomes aware and finds initiative to be.
Now. From a Plotinian Platonist Perspective "Theurgy" necessarily is nonsense. Why? Because one's intellect is undescended.
What certainty (evidence) do we have that our intellect is undescended via immediate experience?
The very fact that one is able to be aware of the relativity of one's conceptions means that non-discursively and intuitively one has a sense of the absolute. If a part of one's intellect were not undescended one would not be able to be aware of the relativity of conception or anything as such. Everyone has a sense of total & complete existence (absolute existence) even though one's existence is finite/relative. It's our undescended intellect that allows such intellection/intuition. It's the source of our ascent because it allows us to have a sense of proportion and allows us to give things their due.
Thus, the "theurgy" (as was defined) is unnecessary. Because via one's intellect (via virtue) allows one ability to know and find directive. The invocation to supernatural entities is based on a false metaphysical premise; one's immediate experience makes evident it to be the case. What is demanded is the participation of the virtues. The lower virtues and higher virtues that will allow the functioning of the intellect that'd allow one to "see".
That said.
And taking the aforementioned into consideration would not the Plotinian Platonist "Theurgy" not but be personal institutionalization of process of being that facilitates virtue of being as such?
What I mean by that is that Plotinian Platonist "Theurgy" is not the invocation of supernatural entities but the use of symbols and triggers (thus the use of one's imaginative faculty) as such in one's process of being to trigger/ignite the fire for virtue of being and consequent activity of intellect?
I like to think I am practicing Plotinian Plotinism as a lived reality; so I have not resorted to finding claim true or false based on dialectic (in the peripatetic sense of the term) but via the practice of philosophy. This is to say that something is not true because Plotinus says it is true. Something is true because it is. Plotinus is the person that we rally around because he is precedence and institution for perspective that is "Philosophy as Principle and as Way" and also his "System"/Concept of Metaphysics is pragmatic. Thus, our gratitude and the love we find ourselves having and giving him. He is valued because he's a Sage. The Sage is valued because his/her being is a participation & communication of The One (and this via intellect). One becomes what one loves. One cannot help but love The Sage (because one is compelled to love the beautiful & good; and The One alone is Beautiful & Good). Thus, one cannot help but love a Plotinus.
Yeah. That said. I'd be interested in people's perspectives on Plotinian Platonist "Theurgy" that I have argued for above.