Plotinus : the road to reality

This 1967 study of Plotinus’ philosophy was the first comprehensive work in English since Inge’s The Philosophy of Plotinus was published early in the twentieth century. After a brief biography of Plotinus, Professor Rist discusses, among other topics, Plotinus’ concept of the One, the Logos and free will and ends with a discussion of faith in Plotinus and later in Neoplatonism. Perhaps because he is strictly neither a classical nor a medieval philosopher Plotinus’ work has been rather neglected in the English-speaking world. Professor Rist has rescued him from this relative obscurity and has indicated some of the ways in which he has influenced both Christian and non-Christian philosophers. Cover Half-title Page Dedication Title Page Copyright c Page Contents Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1 Introduction 2 A Life for the Sage 3 The Plotinian One 4 The One’s Knowledge 5 Beauty, the Beautiful, and the Good 6 Emanation and Necessity 7 Logos 8 The Sensible Object 9 The Descent of the Soul 10 Man’s Free Will 11 Happiness 12 The Self and Others 13 The Originality of Plotinus 14 A Common Metaphor 15 Prayer I II 16 Mysticism 17 Neoplatonic Faith 18 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index of Passages in the ‘Enneads’ General Index Perhaps because he is strictly neither a classical nor a medieval philosopher, Plotinus' work has been rather reglected in the English-speaking world. The author has rescued him from this relative obscurity and has indicated some of the ways in which he has influenced both Christian and non-Christian philosophers