Plotinus Or the Simplicity of Vision
“Plotinus Or the Simplicity of Vision” by Pierre Hadot, published by University of Chicago Press in April 1998, is a reprint edition comprising 138 pages in English. This book presents a philosophical portrait of Plotinus, offering insights into his thoughts and teachings. Hadot explores Plotinus’s perspectives on various topics, including the self, existence, love, virtue, gentleness, and solitude, emphasizing his belief that the practice of philosophy is rooted in spiritual exercises rather than merely professing new truths.
Readers will find that Hadot illustrates how Plotinus viewed the works of Plato and Aristotle as foundational, asserting that the aim of philosophy is to live in accordance with these essential truths. The book highlights Plotinus’s advice against being overly focused on the body and material concerns, framing it as a recognition of the detrimental impact such preoccupations can have on one’s spiritual practice. This edition serves as an accessible introduction to Plotinus’s philosophy, enriched by Michael Chase’s translation, which includes a chronology and an analytical bibliography for further exploration.
Official synopsis Publisher
Since its original publication in France in 1963, Pierre Hadot’s lively philosophical portrait of Plotinus remains the preeminent introduction to the man and his thought. Michael Chase’s lucid translation—complete with a useful chronology and analytical bibliography—at last makes this book available to the English-speaking world.
Hadot carefully examines Plotinus’s views on the self, existence, love, virtue, gentleness, and solitude. He shows that Plotinus, like other philosophers of his day, believed that Plato and Aristotle had already articulated the essential truths; for him, the purpose of practicing philosophy was not to profess new truths but to engage in spiritual exercises so as to live philosophically. Seen in this light, Plotinus’s counsel against fixation on the body and all earthly matters stemmed not from disgust or fear, but rather from his awareness of the negative effect that bodily preoccupation and material concern could have on spiritual exercises.
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