c. 205–270 CE · Platonist philosopher
Plotinus
Πλωτῖνος
In Alexandria: 232–243 CE
Studied with Ammonius Saccas in Alexandria from 232 to 243, then joined Gordian III's Persian expedition hoping to learn the wisdom of Persia and India, and taught in Rome from 244. Porphyry edited his treatises as the Enneads: the One, Intellect and Soul, and the soul's return to its source.
Their life and work
Porphyry's Life is the only full account of him. It opens with his shame at being in the body, his refusal to sit for a portrait and his death (Life 1–2), and only then gives what Plotinus told his pupils of his early years: the search among Alexandria's teachers and the eleven years with Ammonius (Life 3). After the Persian expedition failed and Gordian was killed, he escaped to Antioch and came to Rome at about forty. He wrote nothing until he was nearly fifty. Porphyry arranged the fifty-four treatises by subject into six groups of nine, the Enneads, from ethics up to the One, and published them about 301.
Our device: Their emblem is a circle and its centre. No portrait of any of these people survives. The emblems are our devices.
On the shelves
- Plotinus, Enneads · written 253–270 CE in Rome; edited by Porphyry c. 301 · Survives whole
Moments
- 232–243 CE · Plotinus studies with Ammonius Saccas Known: attested
In the show
- Plotinus, Eastern Philosophy & Alexandria, episode 22, at 48 secondsTranscriptKnown: attested
- Plotinus’ Philosophy of The One, Nous & Soul, episode 22, at 14 minutes 50 secondsTranscriptThe One, Nous and Soul.Known: attested
- Ritual, Matter & Divine Ascent, episode 22, at 44 minutes 19 secondsTranscript'They must come to me': Plotinus against Iamblichus' going to the gods (Life of Plotinus 10).Known: attested
+ 14 more
- Plotinus & the Three Hypostases, episode 17, at 49 minutes 17 secondsTranscriptKnown: attested
- Plotinus, matter, and the problem of evil, episode 10, at 49 minutes 6 secondsTranscriptPlotinus, matter and the problem of evil (Enneads I.8).Known: attested
- Plato’s Demiurge vs. the Gnostic Demiurge, episode 36, at 1 hour 54 minutes 33 secondsTranscriptPlato's demiurge against the Gnostic demiurge, and Plotinus' polemic (Enneads II.9).Known: attested
- Plotinus, Eastern Philosophy & Alexandria, episode 22, at 48 secondsTranscript“he couldn't find the right teacher. Um and he found his teacher ammonia circus.”Life of Plotinus 3.Known: attested
- Plotinus, Eastern Philosophy & Alexandria, episode 22, at 1 minute 32 secondsTranscript“He wants to study the philosophy of India in India.”Life of Plotinus 3: he joined Gordian III's expedition (242/243), which failed; he escaped to Antioch.Known: attested
- Plotinus & The Enneads, episode 22, at 12 minutes 7 secondsTranscript“Platinus um himself raised in Roman Egypt, wrote the Iniads.” (intended: Plotinus)His birth at Lycopolis is reported only by Eunapius (c. 400); Porphyry says Plotinus would not speak of his origins.Known: attested
- Artistic influence, intention & taking the first step, episode 26, at 1 hour 57 minutes 54 secondsTranscript“And even Platinus, the the neoplatonist, the guy who literally innovated Platonic philosophy” (intended: Plotinus)Known: attested
- Path: The Path of the Theurgist, station 1Locate the aim of theurgy. Plotinus' theoria against Iamblichus' matter.Known: attested
- Path: The Mysteries of Symbol, station 5Stand before the veils. The veils of negative existence, argued as Plotinian before Kabbalistic.Known: attested
- Philosophy · Chronology: PlotinusPlotinus, born 204, teaching at Rome from 244.Known: attested
- Mysticism · Ladders of Ascent: PlotinusKnown: attested
- Mysticism · Chronology: Plotinus and the OnePlotinus and the One.Known: attested
- Theurgy · Chronology: Plotinus declines the templesPlotinus declines the temples.Known: attested
- Gnosticism · Figures: Plotinus, critic of the GnosticsKnown: attested
Sources (3)
- Porphyry, Life of Plotinus 3
- L. P. Gerson (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus (Cambridge, 1996)
- Porphyry, Life of Plotinus 1–4, 24–26