7AAN2031 Greek Philosophy III: Special Topics Neoplatonism Syllabus Academic year 2014/5

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1 7AAN2031 Greek Philosophy III: Special Topics Neoplatonism Syllabus Academic year 2014/5 Basic information Credits: 20 Module Tutor: Dr. Raphael Woolf Office: 712 Consultation time: TBA Semester: 2 Lecture time and venue*: TBA *Please note that tutorial times and venues will be organised independently with your teaching tutor Module description (plus aims and objectives) Neoplatonism is the last great ancient philosophical tradition, founded in the 3 rd century by Plotinus, who is arguably the most important ancient thinker after Plato and Aristotle. Neoplatonism had a tremendous historical influence on subsequent philosophy, in both the European and Islamic worlds. It is also distinctive for its philosophical interest, as Neoplatonists developed striking positions on issues such as the relation between language and thought, the nature of evil, and the meaning of freedom. The Neoplatonic tradition also devoted considerable attention to the interpretation and harmonization of Plato and Aristotle; thus anyone interested in the work of these two thinkers is likely to find Neoplatonism of interest too. For the same reason, some background in the study of Plato and Aristotle is a prerequisite for this module (Greek Philosophy I, II, or equivalent). Assessment methods and deadlines Formative assessment: 1 essay of words Summative assessment: 1 essay of 4000 words Outline of lecture topics (plus suggested readings)

2 The two main primary texts for the course are: J. Dillon and L.P. Gerson, Neoplatonic Philosophy: Introductory Readings (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2004). R. Sorabji, The Philosophy of the Commentators, AD: a SourcebookinThreeVolumes (London: Duckworth, 2004). These are available in the library, but I would recommend buying at least the Dillon and Gerson. Some useful general survey volumes are worth getting: L. Gerson (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996). P. Remes, Neoplatonism (Stocksfield: Acumen, 2008). M. Tuominen, The Ancient Commentators on Plato and Aristotle (Stocksfield: Acumen, 2009).

3 Week 1, Plotinus philosophy: an overview Primary text: Enneads V.1, On the Three Principal Hypostases (in Dillon and Gerson) D. O Meara, Plotinus: an Introduction to the Enneads (Oxford: 1993).* L.P. Gerson, Plotinus (London, 1998). Week 2, Plotinus on the One and the generation of intellect Primary text: Enneads VI.7, How the Multitude of Ideas (in Dillon and Gerson) E.K. Emilsson, Plotinus on Intellect (Oxford: 2007), ch.2.* J.R. Bussanich, The One and its Relation to Intellect in Plotinus (Leiden: 1988). Week 3, Plotinus on Intellect and the Forms Primary text: Enneads V.5, That the Intelligibles are not (in Dillon and Gerson) E.K. Emilsson, Plotinus on Intellect (Oxford: 2007), ch.3.* H.A. Armstrong, The Background of the Doctrine that the Intelligibles are not Outside the Intellect, in Les Sources de Plotin (Geneva: 1960), P. Kalligas, Forms of Individuals in Plotinus: a Re-Examination, Phronesis 42 (1997), * Week 4, Plotinus on soul and self Primary text: Enneads I.1, On What is the Living Being and IV.8, On the Descent of the Soul (in Dillon and Gerson) E.K. Emilsson, Plotinus on Soul-Body Dualism, in S. Everson (ed), Psychology: Companions to Ancient Thought (Cambridge: 1991). P. Remes, Plotinus on Self: The Philosophy of the We (Cambridge: 2007). H.Blumenthal, On Soul and Intellect, and S. Clark, Body and Soul, both in The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus, and Week 5, Iamblichus on the soul Primary text:iamblichuson the Soul and extracts from Pseudo-SimplicusCommentary on the Soul (in Dillon and Gerson) J.M. Dillon, Iamblichus Criticisms of Plotinus Doctrine of the Undescended Soul, in R. Chiaradonna (ed.), Studisull anima in Plotino (Naples: 2005), J.F. Finamore and J.M. Dillon, Iamblichus: De Anima (Leiden: 2002). C. Steel, The Changing Self: A Study on the Soul in Later Neoplatonism (Brussels: 1978). READING WEEK Week 6, Plotinus on Happiness Primary text: Enneads I.4, On Happiness (in Dillon and Gerson) J. Dillon, An Ethic for the Late Antique Sage, in The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus, Kieran McGroarty, Plotinus on Eudaimonia: A Commentary on Ennead I.4. Oxford: Oxford University Press, A. A. Long, Plotinus, Ennead 1.4 as Critique of Earlier Eudaimonism in R.Kamtekar (ed.) Virtue and Happiness. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Week 7, Plotinus on matter and evil Primary text: Enneads I.8 On What Evils Are (in Dillon and Gerson) D. O Brien, Plotinus on Matter and Evil, in The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus, [see also his book, Plotinus on the Origin of Matter (Naples, 1991)]. J.M. Rist, Plotinus on Matter and Evil, Phronesis 6 (1961), *

4 D.J. O Meara, Evil in Plotinus (Enn. I, 8), in D.J. O Meara, The Structure of Being and the Search for the Good (Aldershot: 1998), IX. Week 8, Proclus on matter and evil Primary text: Proclus, On the Existence of Evils, trans. J. Opsomer and C. Steel (London:2003). J. Opsomer, Proclus vs Plotinus on Matter (De mal. subs. 30-7), Phronesis46 (2001), * C. Steel, Proclus on the Existence of Evil, Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy 14 (1999), R. Sorabji, The Philosophy of the Commentators vol.2, ch.4. Week 9, Plotinus on providence and freedom Primary text: Enneads VI.8 On the Free Will (in Dillon and Gerson) See also Enneads III.2-3, On Providence (for this see Armstrong s translation in the Loeb edition) G. Leroux, Human Freedom in the Thought of Plotinus, in The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus, Week 10, Porphyry on vegetarianism Primary text: Porphyry, On Abstinence from Eating Animals, trans. G. Clark (London: 2000), book 3. R. Sorabji, Animal Minds and Human Morals (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1993). D.A. Dombrowski, Porphyry and Vegetarianism: a Contemporary Philosophical Approach, Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt II.36 (1987), *= electronic resource available online through KCL library

5 Suggested essay questions Does the claim that the One is utterly simply really mean that the One is ineffable? Does Plotinus give grounds for distinguishing Intellect (nous) from the One? Critically discuss Plotinus s claim that the intelligibles are not outside the Intellect. Were the Neoplatonists able to explain how an immortal, immaterial soul can interact with a physical body? Was Iamblichusright to criticise Plotinus s doctrine of the undescended soul? Plotinus s ethical thought consists in nothing more than the claim that we should turn away from the physical world and contemplate the Forms. Discuss According to Plotinus, what does it mean for a human to be free? How does this relate to what it means for the One to be free? Who had the better of the debate between Plotinus and Proclus as to whether matter is to be identified with evil? Does Porphyry make a convincing case that a philosopher should not eatmeat?

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