Plotinus

Plotinus (AD 205–270) 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, Eyjólfur K. Emilsson introduces and explains the full spectrum of Plotinus’ philosophy for those coming to his work for the first time. Beginning with a chapter-length overview of Plotinus’ life and works which also assesses the Platonic, Aristotelian and Stoic traditions that influenced him, Emilsson goes on to address key topics including: Plotinus’ originality the status of souls Plotinus’ language the notion of the One or the Good Intellect, including Plotinus’ holism the physical world the soul and the body, including emotions and the self Plotinus’ ethics Plotinus’ 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.

Chronology 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, Part 1: The Lower Soul and the Body 8. The Human Being, Part 2: The Higher Soul and We Ourselves 9. Ethics, Part 1: Virtue, Happiness, and the Ethics of Everyday Life 10. Ethics, Part 2: Mystical Experience, Theodicy and Freedom, Beauty 11. Plotinus’s Legacy and Influence. Glossary Index

Eyjólfur K. Emilsson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oslo, Norway. He is the author of Plotinus on Sense-Perception (1988), Plotinus on Intellect (2007) and (with Steven K. Strange) of a translation and commentary, Plotinus: Ennead VI.4 and VI.5: On the Presence of Being, One and the Same, Everywhere as a Whole (2015). He has published numerous articles on Plotinus and other ancient philosophers and translated Plato’s Republic and other Platonic dialogues into Icelandic.