Stephen MacKenna

This book is simply the most exalted translation of one of the finest products of the human mind. This edition makes it truly "the thinking person's Plotinus" as well: Endnotes compare MacKenna's original translation with hundreds of debatable revisions made by editors in editions published after his death, and show how other major translators (A H Armstrong, K S Guthrie, Thomas Taylor) handle these same passages. Bonus: a detailed appendix from Anthony Damiani's groundbreaking work with The Enneads.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Essence of Plotinus is a book that features extracts from the Six Enneads and Porphyry's Life of Plotinus, which were written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plotinus and his disciple Porphyry. The book is compiled and translated by Stephen MacKenna, a renowned scholar of Plotinus' philosophy. The Six Enneads is a collection of writings by Plotinus that expound his philosophy of Neoplatonism, which emphasizes the existence of a single, transcendent reality that is beyond the physical world. The book covers various topics such as the nature of the soul, the relationship between the soul and the divine, and the process of spiritual purification. Porphyry's Life of Plotinus is a biography of Plotinus that provides insight into his life and teachings. The book includes anecdotes and personal accounts of Plotinus' interactions with his disciples and other philosophers of his time. The Essence of Plotinus is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of Neoplatonism, as it provides a comprehensive overview of Plotinus' ideas and teachings. The book is written in a clear and concise style, making it accessible to both scholars and general readers alike. This is a new release of the original 1948 edition. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.