Neoplatonism (Ancient Philosophies) [Paperback]

Pauliina Remes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520258606 | ISBN-13: 978-0520258600 | Publication Date: November 4, 2008 | Edition: 1

Although Neoplatonism has long been studied, until recently many had dismissed this complex system of ideas as more mystical than philosophical. Recent research, however, has provided a new perspective on this highly influential school of thought, which flourished in the pagan world of Greece and Rome up through late antiquity. Pauliina Remes's lucid, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction reassesses Neoplatonism's philosophical credentials, from its founding by Plotinus (204-70, C.E.) through the closure of Plato's Academy in 529. Using an accessible, thematic approach, she explores the ideas of leading Neoplatonists such as Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus, Simplicius, and Damascius, as well as less well-known thinkers. She situates their ideas alongside classical Platonism, Stoicism, and the neo-Pythagoreans as well as other intellectual movements of the time, including Gnosticism, Judaism, and Christianity. She also considers Neoplatonism's enduring legacy in the history of philosophical thought, providing a gateway to Neoplatonism for contemporary readers.
Copub: Acumen Publishing Limited

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Remes' book benefits extensively from recent work on Plotinus and other Neoplatonic authors, and offers a readable and accurate introduction to the topic. It is a welcome resource and I would certainly recommend that anyone teaching a course on Neoplatonic thought give this book to their students to read." - Peter Adamson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "This book excels as an introductory text. It is a nice corrective to older surveys of late ancient philosophy, which tend to present Neoplatonism as decadent, 'spiritualized', and concerned more with theurgic magic than philosophy. Remes does a fine job introducing the metaphysics, but her focus in the book's middle chapters on anthropology, psychology, and ethics really set this book apart. It is these areas that are receiving attention in recent research (including Remes' own work), and this book situates students within the most current and promising trends in the field. This innovative approach and attention to the most current research does not come at the expense of a solid introduction to the basics of the tradition. It would work well as a graduate or advanced undergraduate course text." - Bryn Mawr Classical Review A concise, thematically oriented introduction. Attuned to the originality of Plotinus and Proclus, among others, Remes also treats them as inseparable from the ancient Greek philosophical tradition they were concerned to preserve and defend.A" - Lloyd P. Gerson, University of Toronto --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Pauliina Remes, Docent of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, Finland, is the author of Plotinus on Self: The Philosophy of "We."

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520258606
• ISBN-13: 978-0520258600
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are looking for a good introduction...., June 7, 2009

By 

John C. Marshell Jr. - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Neoplatonism (Ancient Philosophies) (Paperback)

I was looking for a good introduction to the subject of Neoplatonism, and if you are doing the same, this book is well worth the purchase price. Dr. Remes' writing is clear and understandable. The book seems geared for undergraduate reading, with terms well defined, and the progressive development of the school outlined through explication of its various adherents, a handy glossary and well organized bibliography are included. The publisher's description is accurate, and the book should fulfill the needs of most people needing an introduction to Neoplatonism.

Dr. Remes gives a good accounting of cosmology and first principles with a thorough explanation of the three hypostasis, their processions, and the philosophical difficulties involved in an "unfolding" metaphysics. Time and sense are also dealt with, though I thought this was probably the weakest area of the book, and the author perhaps could have revealed more of Plotinus' aesthetic theory, especially his understanding of interior sensing. If you are interested in this aspect of Neoplatonism, I would recommend Plotinus on Body and Beauty: Society, Philosophy, and Religion in Third-Century Rome. Dr. Remes discusses the role of the sage and moral development, the distinction between soul and self, and to my delight, touches on action in the moral life. So, if you seek a good introduction, look no further.

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book but one complaint..., April 25, 2011

By 

David Engram "far from home" (Akita, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Neoplatonism (Ancient Philosophies) (Paperback)

This was a wonderful well written book. Congratulatons to Pauliina Remes. However, I have one major complaint: the fact that she could not resist the urge to leave the book genderly neutral. For example: " The philosophers are unanimous in the fact that when the soul or, perhaps better, the self, forgets its true origin, which is in the higher levels of metaphysics, and looks at the inferior level, at what is unintelligible, SHE becomes ignorant of HER true self (p. 179)" This just totally killed it for me. She could have very well said, "it" and "itself", but like many women writers she couldn't resist. Look... can we please leave all the feminist and political correct stuff out of philosophy? What's wrong with the tradition? Keep it masculine or neutral please. I also notice the increase in the feminine use towards the later end of the book. Anyway, it is a good read, well worth the time energy spend to read it, but the whole "she" and "herself" thing just killed it for me.