Plotinos, his Life, Times and Philosophy
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Plotinus and Guthrie, Kenneth Sylvan
By Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, A. M., Harvard, Ph. D., Tulane.
This is a lucid, scholarly systematization of the views of Plotinos, giving translation of important and useful passages. It is preceded by a careful indication and exposition of his formative influences, and a full biography dealing with his supposed obligations to Christianity. Accurate references are given for every statement and quotation. The exposition of, and references on Hermetic philosophy are by themselves worth the price of the book.
Dr Harris, U.S. Commissioner of Education has written about it in the highest terms. Dr. Paul Carus, Editor of the Open Court, devoted half a page of the July 1897 issue to an appreciative and commendatory Review of it. Among the many other strong commendations of the work are the following:
From G. R. S. Mead, Editor The Theosophical Review, London:
It may be stated, on the basis of a fairly wide knowledge of the subject, that the summary of our anonymous author is the CLEAREST and MOST INTELLIGENT which has as yet appeared. The writer bases himself upon the original text, and his happy phrasing of Platonic terms and his deep sympathy with Platonic thought proclaim the presence of a capable translator of Plotinos amongst us....
To make so lucid and capable a compendium of the works of so great a giant of philosophy as Plotinos, the author must have spent much time in analysing the text and satisfying himself as to the meaning of many obscure passages; to test his absolute accuracy would require the verification of every reference among the hundreds given in the tables at the end of the pamphlet, and we have only had time to verify one or two of the more striking. These are as accurate as anything in a digest can rightly be expected to be. In addition to the detailed chapters on the seven realms of the Plotinic philosophy, on reincarnation, ethics, and æsthetics, we have introductory chapters on Platonism, Aristotelianism, Stoicism, and Emanationism, and on the relationship of Plotinos to Christianity and Paganism.
Those who desire to enter into the Plotinian precincts of the temple of Greek philosophy by the most expeditious path CANNOT do BETTER than take this little pamphlet for their guide; it is of course not perfect, but it is undeniably THE BEST which has yet appeared. We have recommended the T.P.S. to procure a supply of this pamphlet, for to our Platonic friends and colleagues we say not only YOU SHOULD, but YOU MUST read it.
Human Brotherhood, Nov. 1897, in a very extended and most commendatory review, says: TOO GREAT PRAISE COULD HARDLY BE BESTOWED upon this scholarly contribution to Platonic literature.
Net price, cloth bound, post-paid, $1.31.