From Vision to Union: Transcending Intellect in Later Neoplatonism

This paper examines the distinction between vision and union in later Neoplatonism, particularly in the works of Iamblichus, Hermias, and Proclus. While the vision of the divine is traditionally considered the highest religious experience, later Neoplatonists argued that it remains an intellective act and, as such, is insufficient for true union with the divine. Instead, they proposed that genuine union transcends intellect and is realized through theurgy—a ritual practice that activates a distinct "part" of the soul, the “One of the soul.” By analysing the metaphysical and epistemological framework of later Neoplatonism, this paper challenges the assumption that divine vision represents the ultimate stage of religious ascent. In doing so, it sheds new light on the role of theurgy as a transformative process that not only surpasses intellectual contemplation but also reconfigures the relationship between human and divine activity.