Plotinus or the Simplicity of Vision

by Hadot, Pierre; Chase, Micahel

• ISBN13: 9780226311944
• ISBN10: 0226311945
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-04-28
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Since its original publication in France in 1963, Pierre Hadot's lively philosophical portrait of Plotinus remains the preeminent introduction to the man and his thought. Michael Chase's lucid translation--complete with a useful chronology and analytical bibliography--at last makes this book available to the English-speaking world. Hadot carefully examines Plotinus's views on the self, existence, love, virtue, gentleness, and solitude. He shows that Plotinus, like other philosophers of his day, believed that Plato and Aristotle had already articulated the essential truths; for him, the purpose of practicing philosophy was not to profess new truths but to engage in spiritual exercises so as to live philosophically. Seen in this light, Plotinus's counsel against fixation on the body and all earthly matters stemmed not from disgust or fear, but rather from his awareness of the negative effect that bodily preoccupation and material concern could have on spiritual exercises.

Table of Contents

Translator's Preface	ix	(4)
Abbreviations Used in References	xiii
Introduction: Reading Hadot Reading Plotinus	1	(16)
Arnold I. Davidson
1 Portrait	17	(6)
2 Levels of the Self	23	(12)
3 Presence	35	(13)
4 Love	48	(16)
5 Virtues	64	(10)
6 Gentleness	74	(23)
7 Solitude	97	(18)
Postface to the Third Edition	115	(2)
Chronological Biography	117	(4)
Analytical Bibliography	121	(8)
References	129	(2)
Index of Plotinian Quotations	131	(4)
Index	135