Maria Zambrano’s Neoplatonism. The Flesh of the Shadows

Abstract

“Maria Zambrano’s Neoplatonism. The Flesh of the Shadows”. This paper explores the impact of Maria Zambrano’s acquaintance with Neoplatonic sources of Late Antiquity in her thought. The objectives of this investigation are twofold: first, to conduct an in-depth study of a lesser-known source of Zambrano’s legacy; and, second, to explore the reasons behind the current interest on thinkers like Plotinus, particularly in light of the significance of the struggle between intelligence and corporality within the Enneads. The paper has three main sections. Firstly, I present Zambrano’s vindication—on a plebeian key—of the figure of Plotinus, which aligns with the views of Cuban poets that were part of her circle during her early exile, such as Fina García Marruz, and is closely related to her—more extensively studied—recovery of Stoicism. Then, I contextualize the use of Plotinian motifs within the Neopythagorean path, a path that Zambrano considered a fundamental element of her thought throughout her whole life. Finally, I focus on Zambrano’s texts dedicated to the discussion of Plotinus and analyze the contribution of this thinker of Late Antiquity to the reflection on the contemporary historical condition.