Plotinus and the Path to Liberation

by The Shrine of Wisdom

A systematic exposition of the philosophy of Plotinus, unfolding the fundamental principles upon which it is founded. This book provides a basic introduction to the essentials of Plotinus' teachings to those who are not able to study the Enneads themselves in any detail, while it affords those who wish to investigate the various treatises in greater depth the opportunity to approach them better prepared.


This guide to the philosophy of Plotinus inlcudes 'On the Beautiful' and 'On Intelligible Beauty'

157 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plotinus is a giant amongst those philosophers whose ideas have left an indelible mark on human thought. Even something apparently as far removed as Greek and Russian iconography from the teachings of this pagan mystic, owes a great debt to his thoughts. His concepts about The One, The Soul, Nature and Matter inform the way the inspired painters of past and present reveal mystical truths within the discipline of icon painting. Both Christian thought in the medieval period and Islamic doctrine, can be shown to have been deeply influenced by ideas first espoused by this Egyptian from the 3rd Century CE.
The Shrine of Wisdom has published an invaluable introduction to Plotinian thought. The Editors have drawn on French sources as well as the original Greek to provide a fresh translation - excellent in my view - of many passages.
Considered one of the three greatest philosophers of antiquity, Plotinus did not write his teachings in a comprehensive and orderly way; that became the task of his disciple Porphyry, who arranged his ideas in the famous Enneads. Even though these writings are profoundly beautiful, not many have the time or inclination to give them deep study. The value of Plotinus and The Path to Liberation lies in the quality of the commentary offered by the Editors. This demonstrates an exceptional grasp of his thought and also provides guidance for the modern student.
This volume should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of mysticism who wishes to understand both the how and the why of the path to the liberation of the Soul. At a little over 150 pages long, the book can be read quite quickly. But it will remain a reference work for those who wish to understand the universal ideas behind the great religious doctrines of our time.

[Niara Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Plotinus. I would recommend reading this book as a first approach before going on to tackle the Enneads. It is very well structured and offers valuable commentary from the Editors. Its approach to the Enneads makes grasping the essence of Plotinus' metaphysics easy without being superficial. Most of the quotes were translated by the Editors and I found them to be much easier to understand than most of the popular translations and also more beautiful, somehow. They bring, in my opinion, some much needed fluidity to the texts.