A philosophical or theological system in which reality is understood as flowing out or emanating in levels from a single ultimate source.
From emanation + -ism suffix (indicating a system or doctrine). This term crystallized in 19th-century philosophical writings to describe the ancient theories of Neoplatonism.
Plotinus, the great Neoplatonic philosopher, developed emanationism as an alternative to both Greek atomism and Christian creation theory—everything flows outward from 'The One' like concentric circles spreading infinitely.
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