Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 1 / In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42930

Title

Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 1 / In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume presents the complete philosophical works of Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism, organized chronologically. Featuring a biography by Porphyry and studies by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, it explores the soul's ascent to the Divine, the nature of beauty, and the purification of the mind. A vital restoration of ancient spiritual heritage for modern readers.

Summary up to 500 words

This volume restores the unexploited spiritual heritage of Plotinus, the third-century Roman philosopher who founded Neoplatonism. Organized chronologically into four periods, the text begins with biographical sketches by Porphyry, Eunapius, and Suidas. These accounts detail Plotinus's life in Lycopolis and Rome, his rejection of physical vanity, and his devotion to philosophy under the guidance of Ammonius. The core of the work consists of his oral teachings and writings on the nature of the One, the Intellect, and the Soul. Plotinus argues that the soul's welfare lies in assimilating itself to the Divinity, shedding the impurities of the body to achieve a state of pure intelligence. He describes the ultimate goal of life as an ecstatic vision of the Good, a sovereign beauty that renders all earthly dominion worthless. The volume includes Guthrie's commentary, which clarifies Plotinus's views on matter, creation, and Christianity, while correcting historical misconceptions. It also features a concordance linking the Enneads to their chronological order, facilitating study of this profound system where virtues are defined as purifications and true beauty is found only in the separation from foreign, material defilement. Porphyry's biography highlights Plotinus's disdain for his physical nature; he refused portraits and statues, viewing his body merely as a vessel to be discarded. His life was marked by chronic illness and a refusal to use remedies or animal products, adhering strictly to a vegetarian diet. After years of oral instruction in Rome, Plotinus began compiling his teachings. His works were later edited by his disciple Amelius and polished by Porphyry, who defended Plotinus against critics who accused him of borrowing from Numenius. Longinus, a contemporary critic, eventually vindicated Plotinus, praising his concise style and originality over the verbosity of Amelius. The text elucidates the Neoplatonic ascent: the soul must close the eyes of the body to the spectacle of terrestrial things, fleeing vain shadows to approach the pure, bodiless Beauty. Ugliness is described as a foreign accretion, like gold tarnished by earth, which is removed through purification. Courage, temperance, and prudence are not merely moral habits but purifications that liberate the soul from the passions and the fear of death. The supreme purpose of life is the ecstatic vision of the Good, a state where the soul, stripped of all foreign elements, beholds the source of existence in simplicity and purity. This contemplation confers blessedness, making the possession of beauty more valuable than any earthly power or royalty.

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Categories

• Classics
• Philosophy