Plotinus
The Routledge Philosophers Series

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 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

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, Oneand 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.