Plotinus' philosophy contains two types of contemplation: 'noetic' contemplation, which is a rational, knowledge-producing activity derived from Plato and Aristotle, and 'hypernoetic' contemplation, a state of beatifying unknowing that resembles Eastern mystical traditions. While some scholars view mysticism as central to Plotinus' system and others dismiss it, this paper argues that examining contemplation rather than mystical experience offers a better approach. Plotinus remains a Western thinker who attempts to place the state of contemplative unknowing within an intellectual, rational pursuit of truth and happiness, even though his philosophy incorporates an experience central to Eastern thought.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty's philosophy centers on the problem of carnality: the status of the human body and consciousness, breaking the traditional dichotomy between body and soul by viewing humans as embodied consciousness. The body is the basic tool for perceiving reality, enabling direct, pre-reflective contact with the universe. However, physical limitations create barriers, leaving some aspects of reality invisible. Art, particularly painting as discussed in Eye and Mind, completes this gap by showing what is invisible, revealing the dynamic and ambiguous structure of Being—comprising embodied consciousness and its surroundings—where levels of interaction constantly permeate and generate new meaning.