Plotinus Psychology

This book is a revised version, with some omissions, of a Cambridge doctoral dissertation submitted in 1963: I fear that it still bears marks of its origins. The dissertation itself was the result of an earlier scheme to identify the sources of Plotinus' psychological doctrines. In the course of this work it soon became evident that it was not sufficient1y clear what these doctrines were. Students of Plotinus have tended to concentrate on the higher regions of his world, and there is still no satisfactory treatment of his doctrines of the embodied soul. It is the purpose of this book to provide a fairly extensive survey of these doctrines. It does not claim to be exhaustive. Nor does it claim to add a large body of new knowledge, since over so wide a field many points have been touched on by others, if only in passing. But I hope that it may remove some misconceptions, and bring the details of Plotinus' theories into sharper focus. It had been my intention to add an introduction - mainly for the benefit of non-specialist readers - on the psychology of Plotinus' predecessors. In the meantime the Cambridge History of Later Greek and Early Medieval Philosophy has appeared, and the reader who wants information on this subject may convenient1y be referred to the relevant parts of the late Professor Merlan's chapters on the predeces sors of Plotinus.

Examination of the theories of the ancient philosophers, from the materialism of the Presocratics and Hellenists to the dualism of Plato and Plotinus, reveals that psychology had become an established discipline long before Descartes.

The aim of this book is to help teachers and students in Ancient philosophy to find their way into the vast amount of modern publications about Plotinus. It collects over 50 years of research in a single and easy-to-use book, containing over 1500 entries in all languages. The first part deals with modern translations of Plotinus’ treatises, while the second part lists studies concerning particular aspects of Plotinus’ thought. The work ends with a series of 4 indexes allowing the reader to find any references quickly. This bibliography contains all the entries that have been listed in the different existing bibliographical indexes. These entries have been corrected and completed with small summaries when necessary. This bibliography is the most exhaustive one now available for those interested in plotinian studies.

The first comprehensive study of Plotinus' theory of the soul for half a century.

First published in 1999. We are fortunate in possessing a fascinating document, The Life of Plotinus, written by the philosopher Porphyry, a pupil and associate of Plotinus for the last eight years of his life. The basic facts contained in this Life can be quickly recounted. Plotinus was likely a Greek born in Egypt in AD 205. It is possible, though, that he came from a Hellenized Egyptian or Roman family. In his 28th year, Plotinus discovered in himself a thirst for philosophy. This is a collection of his works- Ennead I contains treatises on what Porphyry calls “ethical matters”; Enneads II–III contain treatises on natural philosophy or cosmology, with some rationalizations for the inclusion of III. 4, 5, 7, and 8. Ennead IV concerns the soul; V Intellect or and VI being, numbers, and the One. The thematic unity of Enneads I, IV, and V is somewhat greater than the rest.

This text provides a fresh and engaging perspective on psychology's history, covering the discipline's development around the world and highlighting its interdisciplinary nature. It offers comprehensive coverage of both classical and contemporary systems of thought, connects psychology to evolving society and culture from ancient times to today, and provides scores of contemporary applications that draw students into the topic. Clarity of coverage, illustrative examples, visual aids, and critical thinking questions make this text enjoyable for instructor and student alike.

This book addresses the mid-rank of the soul theme as it emerges in Plotinus and Augustine in the context of their respective interpretations of universal order. They both use the journey metaphor to describe the soul's progress through the turbulent "sea" of earthly existence.