Henology

Henology (from Greek ἕν hen, "one") refers to the philosophical account or discourse on "The One" that appears most notably in the philosophy of Plotinus.^[1] Reiner Schürmann describes it as a "metaphysics of radical transcendence" that extends beyond being and intellection.^[2] It can be contrasted with ontology, as ontology is "an account of being" whereas henology is an "account of unity."

Areas of inquiry

Henology stands in contradistinction to several other philosophical disciplines. The term "henology" refers to the discipline that centers around The One, as in the philosophies of Plato and Plotinus. It is sometimes used in contradistinction to disciplines that treats Being as its starting point (as in Aristotle and Avicenna) and also to those that seek to understand Knowledge and Truth (as in Kant and Descartes).^[3]

See also

• Absolute (philosophy)
• Deleuzian metaphysics
• Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
• "God above God" in the philosophy of Paul Tillich
• Henosis, union with what is fundamental in reality
• Monad (philosophy)
• Non-philosophy
• The One in Plotinus
• Univocity of being

References

1. Four ages of Understanding at Google Books Retrieved on May 16, 2009
2. Broken hegemonies at Google Books Retrieved on May 16, 2009
3. Henologische Perspektiven II at Google Books Retrieved on May 16, 2009