PLOTINUS

born AD 205, , Lyco, or Lycopolis, Egypt? died 270, Campania 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. Additional reading The text of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus may be found prefixed to most of the editions of the Enneads of Plotinus. Plotins Schriften, vol. 5c, ed. and trans. by R. Harder (1958), is a critical edition of the Greek text with German translation and notes. A Greek text with English translation and short notes is in Plotinus, vol. 1, trans. by A.H. Armstrong (1966). An English translation is in The Enneads, trans. by Stephen MacKenna, 4th ed. rev. by B.S. Page, pp. 120 (1969). The best character study of Plotinus, and also an excellent introduction to his thought, is Pierre Hadot, Plotin, ou la simplicit du regard (1963). See also A.H. Armstrong in the Cambridge History of Later Greek and Early Mediaeval Philosophy, part 3, Plotinus, ch. 12, Life, and 13, Teaching and Writing (1967), with bibliography.