Reading Plotinus: A Practical Introduction to Neoplatonism (History of Philosophy) [Hardcover]

Kevin Corrigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2005 | Series: History of Philosophy

This book provides a practical reading guide to the thought of Plotinus, the great philosopher who was born in Alexandria in the third century a.d., lived in Rome and wrote in Greek. Deeply immersed in earlier Greek philosophy, especially Plato and Aristotle, Plotinus’ thought was to have an immense influence upon the theology and philosophy of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, as well as to bear a deep resonance with the major forms of Eastern mystical thought, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism. At the same time, Plotinus' philosophy remains unique in its own right. Corrigan's work presents, in an accessible and yet authoritative way, three treatises translated in full, as well as several other major passages representative of the wide range of thought to be found in Plotinus’ Enneads. There is extensive and detailed commentary accompanying each translation, which helps the reader to work his or her way through Plotinus’ often highly compressed thought. The concluding chapter draws together the practical and theoretical significance of Plotinus’ writings and situates them in an accessible manner for both first-time reader and scholar alike within the subsequent vast history of Neoplatonism which extends through the Mediaeval and Renaissance worlds and right into modern times. This book is intended to be of use for anyone who wants to read and understand Plotinus, non-specialists and specialists, and it will be particularly helpful for students and scholars of philosophy, history of ideas, aesthetic theory, and literature and religious thought, both Western and Eastern.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 293 pages
• Publisher: Purdue University Press (January 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557532338
• ISBN-13: 978-1557532336
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,007,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough and far-reaching academic sourcebook, August 11, 2005

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Plotinus: A Practical Introduction to Neoplatonism (History of Philosophy) (Purdue University Press Series in the History of Philosophy) (Paperback)

Also available in a hardcover edition (1557532338, $58.95), Reading Plotinus: A Practical Introduction To Neo-Platonism by KevinCorrigan (Visiting Professor, Humanities Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Corrigan and Professor of Classics and Philosophy, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, Canada). Plotinus (204/205-270) was a philosopher whose kindly views on the soul, time and eternity, free will, and other topics earned him the respect and admiration of those close to him, and derisive insults such as "big driveller" and "plagiarist" by those who did not. His advanced views are presented in a fluid translation of their original text, followed by an extensive and exhaustive commentary. A thorough and far-reaching academic sourcebook, intended especially for college students of philosophy, but also containing deeply spiritual contemplations that will resonate with the seeker of mystical matters about the soul, the afterlife, and oneness with the universe. Additional chapters offer a broad-reaching summary and insight into Plotinus' views as a whole, as well as bit-by-bit analysis. An excellent resource and reference for college libraries or any student of Plotinus and Neo-Platonism.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine intro to Plotinian thought, March 27, 2008

By 

Kevin Oliver (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reading Plotinus: A Practical Introduction to Neoplatonism (History of Philosophy) (Purdue University Press Series in the History of Philosophy) (Paperback)

This compilation is by no means a comprehensive look at the writings of Plotinus, the man known as the founder of Neoplatonism--only certain Enneads are produced in translation and are commented upon--but that is not Corrigan's intent. The purpose of this book is to highlight certain key concepts from Plotinus's revolutionary brand of Platonism so that the reader can become reasonably familiar with them prior to diving into the Enneads as a whole.

In this respect, the book is a success. The translations and subsequent commentaries are arranged by topic and need not be read in order from first to last. And the reader should be reasonably well versed in core ideas such as the hypostases, the nature of the soul, etc., at least insofar as any commentator really understands the thoughts of Plotinus on these matters. The downside is that Corrigan opts for a very literal translation, and unfortunately Plotinus is already a writer infamous for his inability to be rendered clearly into English. That being the case, the casual reader would perhaps be better suited reading the commentary first, then reading and rereading the translated passages until it makes some kind of sense. But Plotinus is difficult in any medium, and someone new to this very sophisticated philosophical system could do worse than to start here.