Plotinus (/ plɒˈtaɪnəs /; Ancient Greek: Πλωτῖνος, Plōtînos; c. 204/5 – 270 CE) was a Hellenistic Greek philosopher, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. [1][2][3][4]
As Plotinus maintains, the Intelligence is an independent existent, requiring nothing outside of itself for subsistence; invoking Parmenides, Plotinus states that “to think and to be are one and the same” (V.9.5; Parmenides, fragment 3).
Plotinus was an ancient philosopher, the centre of an influential circle of intellectuals and men of letters in 3rd-century Rome, who is regarded by modern scholars as the founder of the Neoplatonic school of philosophy.
Plotinus' concept of the Divine Mind and the purpose of mortal existence exerted tremendous influence on all three of the world's great monotheistic religions and, for this reason, many consider him the most significant philosopher of the ancient world.
Explore the life & philosophy of Plotinus, the enigmatic founder of Neoplatonism. Discover his journey, teachings, & lasting impact on Western thought.
Discover the life and philosophy of Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism. Explore his teachings on The One, Intellect, and Soul, and how his ideas shaped early Christianity, Islamic thought, and the Renaissance.
Who Was Plotinus? The Philosopher Who Bridged the Gap Between the Mind ...
Plotinus, the philosopher our contemporary, seemed ashamed of being in the body. So deeply-rooted was this feeling that he could never be induced to tell of his ancestry, his parentage or his birthplace.
Plotinus considered himself a Platonist, and likely had access to both Plato and Aristotle’s original writings, but often appears to accept Aristotle’s interpretations of Plato as the last word, even as such interpretations lead directly to Aristotle’s criticisms of Plato.