The Middle Platonists: 80 B.C. to A.D. 220 [Paperback]

John M. Dillon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dillon's excellent work is the first book-length study in any language of the whole development of Platonism in the 300 years between Cicero and Plotinus. . . . From the opening pages on Plato's oral teaching and the work of his immediate successors Speusippus and Xenocrates, the book is very clear, judicious, and surprisingly enjoyable. The book will do much to open this neglected and fascinating period to contemporary scholars and students at all levels."-Choice

"Dillon's book will be of much use. . . . He covers almost all of the Middle Platonists (Eudorus, Plutarch, Atticus, Albinus, Apuleius, Nicomachus, Numenius, etc.) summarizing . . . what we know about their lives and opinions. . . .Considerable attention is paid to the historical problems of the origins and development of Middle Platonism."-Review of Metaphysics

"A superb historical survey of certain philosophical developments that arose between the times of Plato and Plotinus . . . . One must welcome this book as an important contribution to the contemporary discussion of Platonic thought."-Journal of the American Academy of Religion

"This book is learned, thorough, reliable, and honest, at the same time being readable, lucid, and technical enough for those who wish to pursue the matter farther, without being too technical for the general reader with a smattering of Greek philosophy."-Classical Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Cornell University Press; Revised edition (May 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801483166
• ISBN-13: 978-0801483165
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filling the Gaps Between Plato and Plotinus, June 10, 2009

By 

Johannes Platonicus (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Middle Platonists: 80 B.C. to A.D. 220 (Paperback)

'Middle Platonists' is a work that focuses on the period of intellectual activity which flourished from the time of the "dogmatist" Antiochus Aschalon (ca. 80 BC) to Ammonius Saccas (ca. 220 AD), the mysterious "teacher" of the great Plotinus. The author, John Dillon, clearly states that his intention for this work is to fill in the gaps between Plato and Plotinus in order to help prevent readers from too hastily moving back and forth from the two giants without understanding the pockets of Academic scholasticism that facilitated the transmission and development of Platonism proper to what became known later as neo-Platonism.

The division of the work is as follows: (a.) 'The Old Academy and the Themes of Middle Platonism,' (b.) 'Antiochus and the Turn to Dogmatism,' (c.) 'Alexandrian Platonism,' (d.) 'Plutarch and the Origins of 2nd Century Platonism,' (e.) 'The 2nd Century Athenian School,' (f.) 'The School of Gaius,' (g.) 'The neo-Pythagoreans' and (h.) 'Loose Ends: Miscellaneous Platonists and the Platonic Underworld.'

To anyone who can afford--or even find--this magisterial study on 'Middle Platonism,' it is absolutely recommended that they acquire a copy. 'Middle Platonists' will greatly enhance any reader's understanding of the entire flow of Platonism, from its source in Plato, to its different channels filled later by his successors.