Philosophy and the Solar System Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus
attempted to solve the problem of the relationship between a
spiritual universe and our physical world. The structure of the
observable heavens served as the model upon which their theories
took form. Although they did not have the benefit of telescopes,
their unaided vision affirmed that the stars and planets were in
motion, and planetary motion seemed oddly circular. What they
failed to realize, for want of a developed science and
technology, was the immense size of the universe and the
relative obscurity of the earth in relationship to it. In the
case of Plotinus, his system was not grounded entirely on
astronomical theories, but rather on the structure of his own
inner or visionary experiences. If this is the case, then his
thought is better understood in terms of the make-up of the
heavens as we know it today, rather than on the inadequate
astronomical theories of his own time. If Plotinus’ inner
experiences were true for him, and the structu