The Neoplatonists: A ReaderThe Neoplatonist philosophers who flourished between the third and sixth centuries AD had a profound influence on Western philosophy, on both Christian and Islamic theology, and on European literature and the visual arts from the Renaissance to modern times. This extensively revised and updated second edition of The Neoplatonists provides a valuable introduction to the thought of four central Neoplatonic philosophers, Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus and Proclus. John Gregory presents new translations of a selection of key passages from their writings, together with concise explanatory essays, commentary and notes. The Neoplatonists: a reader also contains an introduction contextualising the Neoplatonists writings and an epilogue detailing the legacy of Neoplatonist thought and the influence of its philosophy. |
Contents
The philosophical context | 6 |
Plotinus system of thought | 12 |
The religious context | 18 |
The One or Good | 24 |
Intellect | 39 |
Soul | 54 |
Matter and Evil | 65 |
The Material Universe | 71 |
Purification and Virtue | 94 |
Beauty | 104 |
Intellectual Contemplation | 116 |
Mystical Union | 124 |
The Neoplatonists after Plotinus | 133 |
Iamblichus | 147 |
The Neoplatonist legacy | 177 |
Man | 80 |
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Common terms and phrases
action activity Aristotle ascent attained attribute beauty become begets behold belongs birth body cause cave centre Chaldaean Oracles Christian contemplation creation creative Cronius Cronos demiurgic derives descends desire distinct divine doctrine earth Enneads ensouled essence eternal everything evil existence faith Gallienus gible Gnostic greater Greek happiness harmony heaven henads higher reality honour human hypostases Iamblichus identity immortality inner Intel Intellect intelligible forms knowledge later Neoplatonists light manifold material matter movement mystical nature Neoplatonism non-being Notes and References object Parmenides participation perception perfect Phaedrus philosophy Phorcys Plato Platonists Plotinian Plotinus Porphyry possess prayer present primal principle prior Proclus purification purity realm reason recognises remains sage sense-perception separate sight soul's symbol theology theurgy things thought Timaeus tion transcendent true truth ugliness unified union unity universe unparticipated virtue visible vision whole wisdom words world of sense World Soul Zeus