Porphyry On The Life Of Plotinus. Ennead III

Plotinus

ISBN 10: 0674994876 / ISBN 13: 9780674994874

Published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1967

About this Item

Minor shelf wear to unclipped DJ. ; Undated. Olive green cloth boards with gilt lettering to front cover and spine. Nice tight copy, no names or marks inside, appears unread and near as new. Greek text with English translation by A. H. Armstrong. ; Loeb Classical Library; Vol. 442; 432 pages; Plotinus (AD 204/5 270) , possibly of Roman descent, but certainly a Greek in education and environment, was the first and greatest of Neoplatonic philosophers. Practically nothing is known of his early life, but at the age of 28 he went to Alexandria, and studied philosophy with Ammonius "Saccas" for eleven years. Wishing to learn the philosophy of the Persians and Indians, he joined the expedition of Gordian III against the Persians in 243, not without subsequent danger. Aged 40 he settled in Rome and taught philosophy there till shortly before his death. In 253 he began to write, and continued to do so till the last year of his life. His writings were edited by his disciple Porphyry, who published them many years after his master s death in six sets of nine treatises each (the Enneads).

Seller Inventory # 36860

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Porphyry On The Life Of Plotinus. Ennead III
• Publisher: Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Publication Date: 1967
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0674994876
• ISBN 13: 9780674994874
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: Reprint.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+

About this title

Synopsis

Plotinus (204/5-270 CE) was the first and greatest of Neoplatonic philosophers. His writings were edited by his disciple Porphyry, who published them many years after his master's death in six sets of nine treatises each (the Enneads).

Plotinus regarded Plato as his master, and his own philosophy is a profoundly original development of the Platonism of the first two centuries of the Christian era and the closely related thought of the Neopythagoreans, with some influences from Aristotle and his followers and the Stoics, whose writings he knew well but used critically. He is a unique combination of mystic and Hellenic rationalist. His thought dominated later Greek philosophy and influenced both Christians and Moslems, and is still alive today because of its union of rationality and intense religious experience.

In his acclaimed edition of Plotinus, Armstrong provides excellent introductions to each treatise. His invaluable notes explain obscure passages and give reference to parallels in Plotinus and others.

About the Author

Arthur Hilary Armstrong (1909–1997) was the Gladstone Professor of Greek at the University of Liverpool.