Ancora su Eraclito in Plotino: le testimonianze indirette

The present article aims to analyze the relationship between Plotinus and Heraclitus by presenting and evaluating all the indirect quotations of Heraclitus that are to be found in the Enneads. These testimonia refer to Heraclitean tenets through the mediation of different sources: Aristotle, Plato, and doxographical works. The evaluation of the passages focuses both on the way in which Plotinus uses his sources and on the philosophical framework in which they are inserted and assimilated. The citations revolve mainly around the allegedly Heraclitean motif of universal flux. The final testimonium will show that, even for modern interpreters, there is a distinct risk of being influenced by an ancient appropriation of Heraclitus’ thought: in our case, appropriation by the Stoics.