Plotinus
Plotinus (; , ''Plōtînos''; – 270
CE) was a
Greek Platonist philosopher, born and raised in
Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of
Neoplatonism. His teacher was the self-taught philosopher
Ammonius Saccas, who belonged to the
Platonic tradition. Historians of the 19th century invented the term "neoplatonism" and applied it to refer to Plotinus and his philosophy, which was vastly influential during
late antiquity, the
Middle Ages, and the
Renaissance. Much of the biographical information about Plotinus comes from
Porphyry's preface to his edition of Plotinus' most notable literary work, ''
The Enneads''. In his
metaphysical writings, Plotinus described three fundamental principles:
the One,
the Intellect, and the
Soul. His works have inspired centuries of
pagan,
Jewish,
Christian,
Gnostic, and
early Islamic metaphysicians and
mystics, including developing precepts that influence mainstream theological concepts within religions, such as his work on duality of the One in two metaphysical states.
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