Book contents
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Cambridge Texts and Studies In Platonism
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables and Charts
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Rhetoric as an Instrument of Philosophy
- Part II Ethics
- Chapter 6 Ethics in Plotinus and His Successors
- Chapter 7 Innovations in Plotinus’ Theory of Virtue
- Chapter 8 Ancient Biographies of Pythagoras and Epicurus as Models of the Philosophical Life
- Chapter 9 Patterns of Perfection in Damascius’ Life of Isidore
- Chapter 10 Love in Plotinus’ Thought
- Chapter 11 Explaining Evil in Late Antiquity
- Chapter 12 Explaining Evil in Justinian’s Reign
- Chapter 13 Philosophos Oikonomos
- Part III Political Science
- Part IV Mathematics
- Part V Metaphysics
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Index Locorum
- General Index
Chapter 10 - Love in Plotinus’ Thought
from Part II - Ethics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 December 2025
Book contents
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Cambridge Texts and Studies In Platonism
- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique Platonism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables and Charts
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Rhetoric as an Instrument of Philosophy
- Part II Ethics
- Chapter 6 Ethics in Plotinus and His Successors
- Chapter 7 Innovations in Plotinus’ Theory of Virtue
- Chapter 8 Ancient Biographies of Pythagoras and Epicurus as Models of the Philosophical Life
- Chapter 9 Patterns of Perfection in Damascius’ Life of Isidore
- Chapter 10 Love in Plotinus’ Thought
- Chapter 11 Explaining Evil in Late Antiquity
- Chapter 12 Explaining Evil in Justinian’s Reign
- Chapter 13 Philosophos Oikonomos
- Part III Political Science
- Part IV Mathematics
- Part V Metaphysics
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Index Locorum
- General Index
Summary
Chapter 10 explores the range of love in Plotinus, going from human earthly (including sexual) loves up to the One/Good as itself love. Plotinus takes over Plato’s interest in love and makes it into a feature of reality in general. Human love – the desire to unite with the beloved, the feeling of need – anticipates aspects of higher levels of love, soul’s love which brings it to union with transcendent Intellect, Intellect being itself love of the One. I discuss the special sense in which the One can be said to be love and self-love.
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- The Ladder of the Sciences in Late Antique PlatonismSelected Essays, pp. 140 - 153Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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