ABSTRACT
For ancient Greek philosophers, philosophy is not merely an intellectual pursuit but rather a way, the best way, of existing-in-the-world, aiming at transforming the individual’s self and life. Even within this context though, the philosophical life, which is devoted to thinking, reflecting, or contemplating is still typically contrasted to an active life, which is directed at acting, making, or creating. For Plotinus, however, the superiority of the philosophical way of life lies precisely in bridging the gap between theory and practice, between thinking and making, broadly conceived. If philosophical thinking can indeed be transformative, then thinking itself would be a form of making, even in some highly qualified sense. By reconstructing the relationship between philosophical thinking and creative activity in Plotinus’ metaphysics and epistemology, I argue for an understanding of thinking and self-thinking as a form of making and self-making.
