Gain a deeper understanding of philosophy through the ages by studying Plotinus—the founder of Neoplatonism.
Plotinus explored the nature of virtue, happiness, reason, body, and soul. His philosophical investigations developed a complex spiritual cosmology, which centers upon a creator-being whom he refers to as the One. According to his theory, all of life engenders from the One—including the One himself, which Plotinus describes as “the light before the light.” Ultimately, he believed that human beings should reject the material world and seek the higher realm of spirituality, culminating in a reunion with the One. Today, we know of Plotinus’ philosophy through the Enneads, a collection of his writings which his student Porphyry compiled and edited.
Through reading Plotinus, you'll gain insight into the development of philosophy in the western world. Neoplatonism influenced many great thinkers, including Augustine of Hippo, Boethius, Thomas Aquinas, Moses Maimodides, and Hegel.
Logos allows you to study Plotinus with unparalleled depth and efficiency. See Greek gloss and morphology with a click. Gather further clarification by instantly jumping to lexicons and dictionaries. Compare the Enneads’ Greek text and English translations, scrolling side by side in sync. Logos applies the most advanced tools to the best texts, so you get the most out of your study.
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Learn more about community pricingPlotinus’s philosophy stands out as one of the major cultural accomplishments of the late antiquity.
—Paul Kalligas, assistant professor of ancient philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Enneads are the primary and classical document of Neoplatonism.
—Adolf von Harnack, theologian
Plotinus addresses the nature of virtue, happiness, and beauty. He also reveals how Plato’s dialectic (analyzing one’s perceptions) can improve one’s understanding of reality.
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[MacKenna’s translation is] worthy . . . to take its place among the masterpieces of English prose.
—W.B. Yeats, poet
It is one of the very few great translations of our day.
—E.R. Dodds, former Regius Professor of Greek, University of Oxford
In the Second Ennead, Plotinus discusses the nature of matter and the relationship between potentiality and actuality. In the Third Ennead, he investigates providence and free will, and also describes the nature of time and eternity.
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Here Plotinus addresses the immortality of the soul and the relationship between the body and the soul.
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In the Fifth Ennead, Plotinus identifies underlying principles of reality: “the One,” the Intellectual Principle, and the soul.
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In the Sixth Ennead, Plotinus delves into the kinds of being established by the Intellectual Principle and the diverse ideas which may be found in the intellect; concluding with a discussion of the good—“the One’s” moral nature.
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Stephen MacKenna (1872–1934) was born in Liverpool, England. He worked as a European correspondent for the New York World. While in St. Petersburg, Russia he read the Enneads. He decided that to translate Plotinus was “worth a life” and thus devoted two decades to the task.
Translator Thomas Taylor holds the distinction of being the first to translate Plotinus’ works into English. This volume presents his translation of a select group of Plotinus’ tractates, comprising:
This wonderful genius and profound philosopher devoted his whole life to the elucidation and propagation of the Platonic philosophy. By his arduous labors modern times became acquainted with many of the works of Plotinus . . .
—Thomas Moore Johnson, editor, The Platonist
Thomas Taylor (May 15, 1758–November 1, 1835) was an English translator. He holds the distinction of being the first to translate the works of Aristotle and Plato into English.
This volume includes the Greek text of Enneads 1 through 3 as well as a Latin introduction.
This volume includes the Greek text of Enneads 4 through 6.
Adolphus Kirchhoff (January 6, 1826–February 26, 1908) was professor of classical philology at the University of Berlin. His other works include Die Homerische Odyssee, Die Fränkischen Runen, and Studien zur Geschichte des Griechischen Alphabets.
Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie provides an analysis of Plotinus’ philosophy in relation to the following subjects:
Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie (1871–1940) received a PhD from Tulane in 1893 and an AM from Harvard in 1894. Additionally, he qualified as an MD, with three gold medals from Medico Chiurgical College in 1903 and received a second PhD at Columbia in 1915. Guthrie is best known for his translations of the works of Proclus, Numenius of Apamea, and Plotinus.
In this text, Charles J. Whitby provides an overview of Neoplatonism and Plotinus’ teachings.
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For the professed student of philosophy, Plotinus still remains the most important of the Neoplatonists, and his theories cannot be neglected. Mr. Whitby has presented them in an admirably concise and lucid form, and for metaphysicians his little volume will be indispensable.
—Globe
Charles Joseph Whitby is also the author of Makers of Man: A Study of Human Initiative, The Doctor and His Work, with a Hint of His Destiny and Ideals, and The Logic of Human Character.
Plotinus (204–270 AD), the founder of Neoplatonism, was born in Lycopolis, Egypt. In his 20s he travelled to Alexandria where he studied philosophy under Ammonius Saccas until 242. For the next two years, he studied Persian and Indian philosophy. Plotinus then traveled to Rome where he established a school of philosophy and taught for 20 years. His work influenced many great thinkers including Augustine of Hippo, Boethius, Thomas Aquinas, Moses Maimodides, and Hegel.