▸ HEAD-TO-HEAD
IBN ARABI VS PLOTINUS
Ibn Arabi
1165–1240
The eternal pattern beneath the changing surface.
Plotinus
~204–270 CE
The eternal pattern beneath the changing surface.
▸ WHERE THEY SHARPLY DISAGREED
The three dimensions on which Ibn Arabi and Plotinus are farthest apart on Mull's 0–10 scale.
- Trust in ReasonΔ 2 / 10Ibn Arabi: 7/10Plotinus: 9/10
somewhat (2/10): Plotinus trusts reasoned argument more strongly than Ibn Arabi does.
- Trust in ExperienceΔ 2 / 10Ibn Arabi: 4/10Plotinus: 2/10
somewhat (2/10): Ibn Arabi grounds knowing in lived experience; Plotinus weights other sources of evidence more.
- Reverence for TraditionΔ 2 / 10Ibn Arabi: 7/10Plotinus: 5/10
somewhat (2/10): Ibn Arabi treats inherited tradition as a source of wisdom; Plotinus is readier to question it.
▸ WHERE THEY OVERLAPPED
Where the gap is smallest — both with meaningful presence on the dimension (not "neither cared").
- Universalist Impulsegap 0 / 10Ibn Arabi: 9/10Plotinus: 9/10
Both lean strongly into universalist impulse.
- Practical Orientationgap 0 / 10Ibn Arabi: 5/10Plotinus: 5/10
Both register moderate practical orientation.
- Mystical Receptivitygap 0 / 10Ibn Arabi: 10/10Plotinus: 10/10
Both lean strongly into mystical receptivity.
▸ ALL 16 DIMENSIONS
The full vector comparison. Bars show their 0–10 scores side-by-side.
- Ascetic TendencyΔ 1
- Communal EmbeddednessΔ 1
- Embodied SensibilityΔ 2
- Mystical ReceptivityΔ 0
- Practical OrientationΔ 0
- Reverence for TraditionΔ 2
- Self as IllusionΔ 1
- Skeptical ReflexΔ 1
- Sovereign SelfΔ 1
- Theoretical DriveΔ 1
- Trust in ExperienceΔ 2
- Trust in ReasonΔ 2
- Tragic VisionΔ 0
- Universalist ImpulseΔ 0
- Vital AffirmationΔ 1
- Will to PowerΔ 0
◀ IBN ARABIPLOTINUS ▶
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