Plotino – Tratado 20,3 (I, 3, 3) — O filósofo

3. The metaphysician, equipped by that very character, winged already and not like those others, in need of disengagement, stirring of himself towards the supernal but doubting of the way, needs only a guide. He must be shown, then, and instructed, a willing wayfarer by his very temperament, all but self-directed.

Mathematics, which as a student by nature he will take very easily, will be prescribed to train him to abstract thought and to faith in the unembodied; a moral being by native disposition, he must be led to make his virtue perfect; after the Mathematics he must be put through a course in Dialectic and made an adept in the science.

3. Le philosophe a une disposition naturelle à s’élever ; il a des ailes et n’a pas besoin, comme les précédents, de se séparer du monde sensible ; il se meut vers les hauteurs. Mais sa marche est incertaine, et il n’a besoin que d’un guide ; il faut lui montrer la route et le conduire ; car il est détaché des choses sensibles, et depuis longtemps. Il faut donc lui donner les sciences pour l’habituer à la notion des êtres incorporels et assurer en lui cette notion (il les recevra facilement parce qu’il est ami du savoir) ; comme il est vertueux par nature, on élèvera ses vertus à leur plus haut degré ; puis, après les sciences, il faut lui enseigner les arguments de la dialectique et en faire un dialecticien.

[3] Quant au Philosophe, il est naturellement disposé à s’élever au monde intelligible. Il s’y élance porté par des ailes légères, sans avoir besoin, comme les précédents, d’apprendre à se dégager des objets sensibles. II peut seulement être incertain sur la route à suivre et avoir besoin d’un guide. Il faut donc lui montrer la route ; il faut aider à se détacher entièrement des choses sensibles cet homme qui déjà le désire de lui-même, et qui depuis longtemps en est détaché par sa nature. Pour cela, on l’appliquera aux mathématiques afin de l’accoutumer à penser aux choses incorporelles, à croire à leur existence. Avide d’instruction, il les apprendra facilement. Comme il est déjà vertueux par sa nature, on n’aura qu’à l’élever à la perfection de la vertu. Après les mathématiques, on lui enseignera la Dialectique et on en fera un dialecticien parfait.

HOW THE PHILOSOPHER RISES TO THE INTELLIGIBLE WORLD.

3. The philosopher is naturally disposed to rise to the intelligible world. Borne on by light wings, he rushes thither without needing to learn to disengage himself from sense-objects, as do the preceding men. His only uncertainty will concern the road to be followed, all he will need will be a guide. He must therefore be shown the road; he must be helped to detach himself entirely from sense-objects, himself already possessing, as he does, the desire, being since a long while already detached therefrom by his nature. For this purpose he will be invited to apply himself to mathematics, so as to accustom him to think of incorporeal things, to believe in their existence. Being desirous of instruction, he will learn them easily; as, by his nature, he is already virtuous, he will need no more than promotion to the perfection of virtue. After mathematics, he will be taught dialectics, which will perfect him.

III. The philosopher, however, is naturally prompt, and as it were, winged, and does not require a separation [from sensible objects] like the other characters ; since he is excited to the supernal region, but is dubious, and therefore is only in want of one that may point out the way. The path, therefore, must be shown to him, and he must be liberated, since he is naturally willing, and was formerlv freed [from the fetters of a corporeal nature]. Hence, be must be instructed in the mathematical disciplines, in order that he may be accustomed to the perception of and belief in an incorporeal essence. For lie will easily admit its subsistence, as lie is desirous of learning. As he is naturally, therefore, endued with virtue, he must he led to the perfection of the virtues; and after the mathematics, he must he taught dialectic reasonings, and in short, must he rendered skilful in dialectic.