9. PYTHAGOREAN SIMILARITIES.
It is a common-place that Numenius was a Pythagorean, or at least was known as such, for though he reverenced Pythagoras, he conceived of himself as a restorer of true Platonism. It will, therefore, be all the more interesting to observe what part numbers play in their system, especially in that of Plotinos, who made no special claim to be a Pythagorean disciple. First, we find that numbers and the divine ideas are closely related.[680] Numbers actually split the unity of the divinity.[681] The soul also is considered as a number,[682] and in connection with this we find the Pythagorean sacred "tetraktys."[683] Thus numbers split up the divinity,[684] though it is no more than fair to add that elsewhere Plotinos contradicts this, and states that the multiplicity of the divinity is not attained by division;[685] still, this is not the only case in which we will be forced to array Plotinos against himself.
The first effect of the splitting influence of numbers will be doubleness,[686] which, though present in intelligence,[687] nevertheless chiefly appears in matter,[688] as the Pythagorean "indefinite dyad."[689] Still, even the Supreme is double.[690] So we must not be surprised if He is constituted by a trinity,[691] in connection with which the Supreme appears as grandfather.[692]
If then both Numenius and Plotinos are really under the spell of Pythagoras, it is pretty sure they will not be materialist, they will believe in the incorporeality of the divinity,[693] of qualities;[694] and of the soul[695] which will be invisible[696] and possess no extension.[697] A result of this will be that the soul will not be located in the body, or in space, but rather the body in the soul.[698]
From this incorporeal existence,[699] there is only a short step to unchangeable existence,[700] or eternity.[701] This, to the soul, means immortality,[702] one theory of which is reincarnation.[703] To the universe, however, this means harmony.[704]
There are still other Pythagorean traces in common between Numenius and Plotinos. The cause that the indeterminate dyad split off from the divinity is "tolma," rashness, or boldness.[705] Everything outside of the divinity is in a continual state of flux.[706] Evil is then that which is opposed to good.[707] It also is therefore unavoidable, inasmuch as suppression of its cosmic function would entail cosmic collapse.[708] The world stands thus as an inseparable combination of intelligence and necessity, or chance.[709]