Description
Book SynopsisPlotinus (AD 205â270) was the founder of Neoplatonism, whose thought has had a profound influence on medieval philosophy, and on Western philosophy more broadly. In this engaging book, EyjÃlfur K. Emilsson introduces and explains the full spectrum of Plotinusâ philosophy for those coming to his work for the first time.
Beginning with a chapter-length overview of Plotinusâ life and works which also assesses the Platonic, Aristotelian and Stoic traditions that influenced him, Emilsson goes on to address key topics including:
- Plotinusâ originality
- the status of souls
- Plotinusâ language
- the notion of the One or the Good
- Intellect, including Plotinusâ holism
- the physical world
- the soul and the body, including emotions and the self
- Plotinusâ ethics
- Plotinusâ influence and legacy.
Including a chronology, glossary of terms and suggestions for further reading, Plotinus is an ideal introduction to this major figure in Western philosophy, and is essential reading for students of ancient philosophy and classics.
Trade Review'[A] general introduction to Plotinus that is pleasant to read and very well informed, by a specialist who has written a great deal on Plotinus. … The exposition is clear, the argumentation rigorous, and no important Plotinian passage has been overlooked. This makes the book an invaluable resource. … This is an important book that brings to the surface the merits and the weaknesses of an interpretation that is tending to become standard in a context in which philosophy is no longer a way of life, but a university discipline.' - Luc Brisson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
'The beauty of this book lies in the way that Emilsson guides the reader through both the intellectual background and legacy of the greatest philosopher of late antiquity. By engaging Plotinus in argument, Emilsson brings the Enneads to life, revealing a system behind unsystematic exposition, exposing philosophical reason where there is an apparent dogma.' - Pauliina Remes, Uppsala University, Sweden
'This is a reliable and readable introduction to Plotinus, from one of the leading scholars of his thought. It offers a level of detail that is unusual in an introductory volume, as well as engaging with the most recent secondary literature. It thus offers a good orientation for students, while also being of interest to seasoned readers of the Enneads.' - Peter Adamson, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
Table of ContentsChronology
Introduction
1. Life, Works and Philosophical Background
2. The World According to Plotinus
3. The One and the Genesis of Intellect
4. Intellect
5. Soul
6. The Physical World
7. The Human Being I: The Soul–Body Compound
8. The Human Being II: The Higher Soul and We Ourselves
9. Ethics I: Virtue, Happiness and the Ethics of Everyday Life
10. Ethics II: Mystical Experience, Theodicy, Freedom and Beauty
11. Plotinus’ Legacy and Influence
