Plotinus and the presocratics : a philosophical study of presocratic influences in Plotinus' Enneads /

Scholars have debated widely whether Plotinus was more simply a follower of Plato or an original thinker in his own right. But as Stamatellos (New York College, Athens, Greece) rightly claims, "The philosophical importance of the Presocratics in the Enneads has generally been overlooked by modern scholarship." In fact, "overlooked" is a euphemism--most scholars have simply dismissed the idea of significant influence on Plotinus from the Presocratics out of hand. Careful study of the Enneads, however, will reveal numerous direct and indirect references and citations of various Presocratics, including some of the only surviving fragments from the earlier thinkers. Stamatellos's study is divided into five chapters, divided thematically--all on topics of obvious importance to Plotinian philosophy: "The Origins of Plotinus' Philosophy," "One and Unity," "Intellect and Being," "Eternity and Time," and "Matter and Soul." A sixth and final chapter draws conclusions. The book provides translations for most of the quotations from Plotinus, though none are offered in the appendix, in which all of the direct and indirect references to Presocratics are enumerated. Serious scholars of Plotinus will benefit from Stamatellos's study. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty/researchers. N. D. Smith Lewis and Clark College