Typology of negativity in the history of ancient philosophy: the analysis of the concepts of Democritus, Plotinus and Damascus

Introduction: the article is devoted to the problem of apophatic tradition formation in the history of ancient philosophy. The research focuses on the issue of the source of negativity in Neoplatonism, analyzes the teachings of Plotinus and Damascus. It is hypothesized that one of the grounds may be the doctrine of Democritus about two types of emptiness.

Materials and Methods: as the materials used in the article, it should be noted the translations from the ancient Greek language of the evidence, transmitting the teachings of the atomists, as well as the appeal to the authentic semantic units. The compositions of Plotinus and Damascus are analyzed on the basis of translated literature. Traditional methods of historical and philosophical research are used: hermeneutic, phenomenological, historical, comparative analysis.

Results:  the initial premise of the study is evidence of the teachings of the atomists, in which there are indications of the existence of not only one, but two kinds of emptiness. On the one hand, it is the hypothetical nature of this provision that is emphasized. On the other hand, it is said about the variability of interpretations of the analyzed evidence. The article shows that the principle of dualism of negativity is present in the teachings of Plotinus and Damascus. In the philosophy of Plotinus, the negativity is presented in the two opposite poles of the hierarchy in henology and in teaching on the matter. It is also shown that in complex apophatic constructions of Damascus it is said about two types of the One.

Discussions and conclusions: in conclusion, it is emphasized that it is difficult to find direct instructions in the texts of Plotinus and Damascus on the relationship of their concepts with the teaching of Democritus about the two types of emptiness, and that the conclusions available in the article are valid only in the context of the general logic of the formation of ancient apophaticism.

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