Dr. Gregory Shaw answers the question: “What is Neoplatonism?” Neoplatonism, in simple terms, is a philosophical system developed in the third century CE that builds upon the ideas of Plato but diverges significantly by embracing a distinctly spiritual outlook. To define Neoplatonism precisely, one must understand that it moves beyond Plato’s foundational doctrines of ideal forms and rationalism, venturing deeply into metaphysical speculation about the nature of the divine and human soul. While traditional Platonism emphasized abstract reasoning and ideal forms existing in a transcendent realm, Neoplatonism introduced a more explicitly spiritual and mystical interpretation of Plato’s thought.