Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads [Paperback]

Dominic J. O'Meara (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 1995

This book is addressed to readers new to the Enneads. One of the greatest of ancient philosophers, Plotinus is attracting ever-increasing attention from those interested in ancient philosophy, late Antiquity, and the importance of this period for the Western intellectual tradition. O'Meara presents a brief outline of Plotinus's life, and of the composition of the Enneads, placing Plotinus within the intellectual context of the philosophical schools and religious movements of his time. He then discusses selected Plotinian texts in relation to a number of central philosophical issues to show how Plotinus's thinking on these issues evolved, and to assess the historical importance of his philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[The book] succeeds by awakening the beginner's interest in his subject and reminding the specialist why it is so fascinating....I recommend this book without qualification to anyone interested in Plotinus: it will serve as an invaluable companion to scholars and students alike."--Review of Metaphysics

"A very good introduction to Plotinus....Recommended for all academic libraries, both undergraduate and graduate level."--Choice

"O'Meara shows succinctly that Plotinus' definition of the intellect as a `one-many', a plurality in unity, marks an advance on Aristotle's thesis that the highest intellect...is a self-reflective thought."--Journal of Hellenistic Studies

"[A] well-crafted, highly readable book."--Ancient Philosophy

"O'Meara's explanations are unfailingly clear and penetrating, and his choice of treatises is astute."--Southern Humanities Review

About the Author

Dominic J. O'Meara is at University of Fribourg.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198751478
• ISBN-13: 978-0198751472
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,570,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to Plotinus, July 15, 2004

By 

"mythologue" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads (Paperback)

This book is more conventional than Pierre Hadot's remarkable study on Plotinus (see my review), since its regressive mode of exposition - from body to soul, Intellect and finally the One - is the most widely used in Neoplatonic studies. Staying close to the Enneads, O'Meara skillfully expounds these hierarchical levels, and he is especially adept at explaining how they relate to each other. The book is more than a simple catalogue of doctrinal tenets: unlike some other scholars of Neoplatonism, O'Meara is fully aware that one can't write about Plotinus' thought without considering the life experience it both presupposes and leads to. Neoplatonic speculation, however abstract it may seem at first, is never distinct from man's situation in the world. (This awareness on O'Meara's part is not surprising: in many articles and a recent book, he seeked to refute the commonly shared contention according to which the Neoplatonists were apolitical.) The author concludes his book with a brief but insightful assessment of Plotinus' influence on Western thought. In short, I strongly recommend this work to those who wish to learn more about a fascinating man and thinker.