![Plotinus: Complete Works: In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods. [single volume, unabridged]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/7142LwtDsoL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
The sixth head of the Platonic Academy, Archesilaus (318-242 BC) was "the first to meddle with the system handed down by Plato (Diogenes Laertius, 4.6)." This meddling, Diogenes informs us, entailed a drastic shift in emphasis in which eristic skepticism was employed as the pre-eminent methodological approach to all philosophical inquiry. Thus with Archesilaus begins the Middle Academy, which fortuitously only lingered on until the advent of Antiochus of Ascalon (130-68 BC), who restored the school to something of its former glory, during the term known as the Middle-Platonic era. But with Plotinus (204-270 AD), upon whom the spirit of Plato descended so graciously, the Divine Philosophy found its fullest expression at last. Even St. Augustine, who did not sway from criticizing Plotinus in the City of God, remarked that "Plato should be thought of as coming to life again in Plotinus (Contra Academicos, 3.18.40)." And Eunapius, writing over a century after Plotinus' passing, tells us that "altars in honor of Plotinus are still warm, and his books are in the hands of educated men, more so than the dialogues of Plato (Lives of the Philosophers, pg. 353, LCL)." Porphyry also testified that in a celebrated oracle of Apollo, that Plotinus, postmortem, was apotheosized and enlisted among the ranks of Plato and Pythagoras in the celestial sphere of the Immortals (Life of Plotinus, 23). Such was his fame and such is his enduring legacy!
Now we owe this present collection of `Enneads' [=nines] to Plotinus' beloved student Porphyry, who collected and edited these sublime and terse philosophical discourses for posterity. (1.) The first series of `Enneads' Porphyry grouped contains moral and ethical treatises, (2.) the second, those on Natural Philosophy [Physics], (3.) the third, on the World and the operation of Fate, Providence, Eternity and Time, (4.) the fourth, elucidates the nature of the Soul, (5.) the fifth (6.) and sixth `Enneads' constitute various metaphysical treatises.
A summation some of the main tenets of Plotinus' philosophy goes as follows: Transcending all being is the One and the Good, the self-contained primal principle, which maintains the order and unity of all things and bestows all goodness, being Goodness and Unity itself. Attendant upon the One, is the secondary principle [or hypostasis], the Primal Intellect, in which thrive all Forms and Ideas that constitute the Authentic Existences, both actually and potentially. Attendant upon the Divine Intellect, is the tertiary hypostasis, Primal Soul, which emanates from the Intellect and the One. While extending into the Material-Cosmos, the All-Soul is transmutted into World-Soul, which distributes Rational Soul to all beings, gives Form to Matter, and is the herald of Nature within the Sense-World. The World-Soul, therefore, distributes all things from, and restores all things to, the three primary Hypostases, as in a circle. The World-Soul is positioned at the epi-center of the Cosmos and is its Limit and is the furthest extension of the Divine in the universe. Man is a micro-cosmos, and in the Hierarchy of Being, is positioned midway between the Divine Intellect and the Material-World. As an intellective soul (offspring of God), man may incline towards the Triad [One, Intellect, Soul], thus freeing his true-self from the fetters of the body, by practicing the practical, purificatory and contemplative virtues. Or, contrarywise, he may incline to the lower-self, which is attached to Nature and Matter and, ever alienating himself from the Triad, he becomes that which his soul was a personification of on earth; and this phase continues, in a series of graded re-births, until the soul deigns and learns to live virtuously and aspire to the blessed Triad, its native abode. Thus rewards and punishments for the soul differ accordingly to the exercise of virtue relative to each soul during embodiment. It is hoped that this brief outline will illuminate something of the essence of Plotinus' stellar philosophy.
Overall, Plotinus' Enneads are the most perfect and faithful systemization of his master Plato's thought. From the labyrinthine exchange of dialectic argumentation inherent to the Dialogues, Plotinus has uncovered the single mind of Plato. He has also lifted the veil of mystery from the Platonic myths and has disclosed their true meaning. The Enneads are a living testimony to the beauty and veracity of the deathless Platonic philosophy.
In Stephen MacKenna's classic edition, we have the most readable translation of the Enneads. The prose is very poetic, artful and vigorous, making this volume a most enjoyable and fulfilling read. Contained in Mackenna's version is the Life of Plotinus by Porphyry, an appendix providing a Suggestive Outline of Plotinian Metaphysics and meanings to various key passages from all existing English versions where indicated.
This book will be welcomed by students and scholars of Greek philosophy, by Christian theologians and classicists, or anyone venturing on the "hunt for true being (Plato, Phaedo 66C)."
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