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überseiend

English translation: the all-transcending One

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:das überseiende Eine
English translation:the all-transcending One
Entered by: Gert Sass (M.A.)

13:48 Apr 16, 2010
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Religion
German term or phrase: überseiend
From a historical study on Christian Kabbalah:

Das *überseiende* Eine: Die Theorie des ersten Grundes hat ihren Ursprung in der Idee des Einen, die Plotin in der sechsten seiner Enneaden entwickelt hat.

Unfortunately this is not a direct quote from the German translation of the Enneaden I found online...But there are a number of hits for überseiend from theological and esoteric texts. Any ideas on the English equivalent?
mill2
Local time: 17:25
the Transcendental / transcendent being/unity
Explanation:
i. e. a unity (and be it one of nothingness) which precedes all dissemination/diversification

Although I would have to study Plotinus's concept of an überseiendes Eines more closely, I am quite sure that the term in question - other than "supreme", which to me implies only "best of kind" - would have to refer to a unity/entity/nothingness separated from and preceding any perceivable form of being. In Aristotle's terms, it reminds me of the issue of a causa efficiens of any form of being: I. e., how can the emergence of any form of being, rather than its complete negation (eternal nothingness), be explained?
cf. http://tinyurl.com/y7so5ht

Plotinus taught that there is a supreme, totally transcendent "One", containing no division, multiplicity or distinction; likewise it is beyond all categories of being and non-being.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotinus#One (italics mine)
Selected response from:

Gert Sass (M.A.)
Germany
Local time: 17:25
Grading comment
Thanks very much - your suggestion sent me back to Plotinus' text (English trans.) and I'm going with all-transcending One
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +2supreme
Melanie Nassar
4the Transcendental / transcendent being/unity
Gert Sass (M.A.)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
supreme


Explanation:
Several articles on Plotinus refer to a "supreme One" e.g.
Plotinus and Jaspers: Their Conception and Contemplation of the Supreme One in Proceedings of the Philosophical Meeting on Neoplatonism
cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=12732078

Or look at the sixth Ennead in Google books
books.google.com/books?isbn=0766177564...


Consider this a slightly informed guess.

Melanie Nassar
United States
Local time: 18:25
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gabriella Bertelmann: agree
35 mins
agree  Nicole Backhaus
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
das überseiende Eine
the Transcendental / transcendent being/unity


Explanation:
i. e. a unity (and be it one of nothingness) which precedes all dissemination/diversification

Although I would have to study Plotinus's concept of an überseiendes Eines more closely, I am quite sure that the term in question - other than "supreme", which to me implies only "best of kind" - would have to refer to a unity/entity/nothingness separated from and preceding any perceivable form of being. In Aristotle's terms, it reminds me of the issue of a causa efficiens of any form of being: I. e., how can the emergence of any form of being, rather than its complete negation (eternal nothingness), be explained?
cf. http://tinyurl.com/y7so5ht

Plotinus taught that there is a supreme, totally transcendent "One", containing no division, multiplicity or distinction; likewise it is beyond all categories of being and non-being.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotinus#One (italics mine)

Gert Sass (M.A.)
Germany
Local time: 17:25
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks very much - your suggestion sent me back to Plotinus' text (English trans.) and I'm going with all-transcending One
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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