Plotinus' Bioethics on Suicide, Incarnation and Killing Living Beings

Abstract

The ancient Greek philosopher Plotinus assumed that human salvation lies in preoccupation with the intellect, not the mundane realm of sense perception. However, according to his disciple, Porphyry, when he was suffering from depression, Plotinus averted him from committing suicide and advised him to travel in order to recondition his thoughts. This course of action was based on the belief that - even though one should not focus on material concerns in order to assist or attain happiness - they should not necessarily reduce mental suffering by curtailing their physical life or that of other living beings. We study the theoretical metaphysical framework on which such a bioethical stance is based and we examine its various implications.

Keywords: bioethics, Plotinus, suicide, neoplatonism, neoplatonist, neoplatonic, Stoics, metaphysics, Ennead, Enneads, death, soul, sensible world, Dionysus, Narcissus, matter, soul transmigration, world soul