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Plotinus
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods
"Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3" by Plotinus is a philosophical text edited around AD 270. This volume contains the Sixth Ennead, the final section of Plotinus's collected writings on Neoplatonism. Compiled by his student Porphyry into fifty-four treatises organized in groups of nine, the work explores profound questions about reality, consciousness, and existence. The sixth section addresses being itself and what transcends it—the One, the ultimate principle underlying all reality. These writings profoundly influenced Western and Near-Eastern philosophical and religious thought through centuries of thinkers.
Plotinus
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 1 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods
"Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 1" by Plotinus is a philosophical collection written in the early 20th century. The work compiles the teachings of the influential Neoplatonist philosopher Plotinus, along with biographies and commentaries from his contemporaries, including Porphyry. The content primarily explores metaphysical concepts, such as the nature of existence, beauty, and the divine, aiming to provide insights into the origins of philosophy. At the start of the volume, the author introduces the complex life and philosophical journey of Plotinus, emphasizing his commitment to oral teaching before later documenting his thoughts. Plotinus is depicted as a man devoted to understanding the divine, often contrasting his disdain for the physical form with his pursuit of intellectual truth. Biographical accounts present a portrait of Plotinus as a philosopher who engaged with students and contemporaries, laying the groundwork for a system of thought that influences both metaphysics and ethical discussions in philosophy. As the narrative progresses, it highlights Plotinus's ascetic lifestyle and intellectual pursuits, foreshadowing the detailed explorations of his ideas that will follow in the subsequent chapters.
Plotinus
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 2 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods
"Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 2" by Plotinus is a collection of philosophical treatises compiled around AD 270. This volume contains the Fourth and Fifth Enneads, exploring profound questions about the soul, perception, memory, and the nature of ultimate reality. Through Porphyry's careful arrangement, these writings guide readers from investigations of human consciousness and embodiment toward contemplation of the highest principles of existence. As foundational texts of Neoplatonism, they profoundly shaped Western and Near-Eastern philosophical and theological traditions for centuries.
Plotinus
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 4 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods
"Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 4" by Plotinus is a philosophical treatise written in the early 20th century. This volume forms part of a comprehensive collection of Plotinus’ works, focusing particularly on his profound insights into metaphysics, ethics, and the nature of happiness and existence. The texts aim to explore complex ideas, such as whether animals and plants can be regarded as happy, situating them within a framework of various philosophical schools like Aristotelianism and Stoicism. The opening of this volume engages readers with a rigorous examination of the concept of happiness. Plotinus raises questions about the nature of happiness and whether it can be assigned to non-human life forms, including animals and plants, arguing for a broader understanding of happiness that transcends mere sensation or rationality. He contrasts the lives of different creatures, asserting that true happiness is rooted in a complete realization of one’s nature, suggesting that happiness derives not just from fulfilling basic instincts or pleasures, but from a deeper alignment with the essence of being. This philosophical inquiry sets the stage for an exploration of the relationship between happiness, the good, and the essential qualities that define existence.
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