Writings related to Neoplatonism. See also: Plato and Platonism.
Full title: IAMBLICHUS’ LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS OR PYTHAGORIC LIFE. ACCOMPANIED BY FRAGMENTS OF THE ETHICAL WRITINGS OF CERTAIN PYTHAGOREANS IN… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life
Full title: IAMBLICHUS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EGYPTIANS, CHALDEANS, AND ASSYRIANS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, BY THOMAS TAYLOR ————… Read More »Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
[Introduction] Marinus, the author of the ensuing life, was the disciple of Proclus, and his successor in the Athenian school.… Read More »Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
The influence of the great Alexandrian Schools had not helped the early Christians in their work of propaganda. While the… Read More »Ammonius Saccas
All these Symbols are exhortatory in common to the whole of virtue; but particularly each to some particular virtue. Different… Read More »The Pythagoric Symbols, with the Explanations of Iamblichus
Foreword This admirable work contains two hundred and eleven propositions, disposed in a scientific order, and supported by the firmest… Read More »Proclus, The Elements of Theology
[Note:] Several of these sentences as published by Arcerius, are in a very defective state; but which, as the learned… Read More »Pythagoric Sentences, from the Protreptics of Iamblichus
Introduction Of that golden chain of philosophers, who, having themselves happily penetrated, luminously unfolded to others the profundities of the… Read More »Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato
Ennead 5.1. The Three Principal Hypostases, or Forms of Existence. AUDACITY THE CAUSE OF HUMAN APOSTASY FROM THE DIVINITY. 1.… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [5:1-9]
Book One 1. Hearing from some of our acquaintance, O Firmus,1 that you, having rejected a fleshless diet, have again… Read More »Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food
Book I. Chapter I. O Pericles, to me the dearest of friends, I am of opinion that the whole philosophy… Read More »Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
I rejoice in the opportunity which is afforded me of presenting the truly philosophic reader, in the present work, with… Read More »Introduction to Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Ennead 1.1. The Organism and the Self. PSYCHOLOGIC DISTINCTIONS IN SOUL. 1. To what part of our nature do pleasure… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [1:1-9]
Chapter I. The mundane Gods, or those divinities who give completion to the sensible world, are assigned the last order… Read More »On the Theology of Plato, a Seventh Book
Neoplatonism, like modern Theosophy, may be considered under three aspects: (1) philosophical and scientific; (2) practical and ethical; and (3)… Read More »Iamblichus: The Egyptian Mysteries
Ennead 3.1. Concerning Fate. POSSIBLE THEORIES ABOUT FATE. 1. The first possibility is that there is a cause both for… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [3:1-9]
The fourth century was the turning point in the history of the Western world, the period in which Christianity took… Read More »Hypatia: The Last of the Neoplatonists
Ennead 4.1. Of the Being of the Soul. It is in the intelligible world that dwells veritable being. Intelligence is… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [4:1-9]
During the lifetime of Plato there was little if any dissension among his pupils. But after his death in 347… Read More »From Plato to the Neoplatonists
Ammonius Saccas, like many other great Teachers, never committed anything to writing. Following the custom of the ancient Hierophants, he… Read More »Plotinus
The little island of Samothrace in the Aegean Sea, today barren and sterile, was once the home of great Adepts,… Read More »Alexandria and Her Schools
Chapter I. Importance of the Subject Since wise people are in the habit of invoking the divinities at the beginning… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras
I. Plotinus, like Porphyry, Despised His Physical Nature, but a Picture of Him was Secured. Plotinus the philosopher, who lived… Read More »Porphyry’s Life of Plotinus, and Order of His Writings
1. Many think that Pythagoras was the son of Mnesarchus, but they differ as to the latter’s race; some thinking him… Read More »Porphyry’s Life of Pythagoras
Ennead 6.1. Of the Ten Aristotelian and Four Stoic Categories. HISTORICAL REVIEW OF CATEGORIES. 1. Very ancient philosophers have investigated… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [6:1-9]
Ennead 2.1. Of the Heaven. HEAVEN, THOUGH IN FLUX, PERPETUATES ITSELF BY FORM. 1. Nothing will be explained by the… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [2:1-9]