1st Edition

The Routledge Handbook of Neoplatonism

Edited By Svetla Slaveva-Griffin, Pauliina Remes Copyright 2014
    656 Pages
    by Routledge

    656 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Routledge Handbook of Neoplatonism is an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the most important issues and developments in one of the fastest growing areas of research in ancient philosophy. An international team of scholars situates and re-evaluates Neoplatonism within the history of ancient philosophy and thought, and explores its influence on philosophical and religious schools worldwide. Over thirty chapters are divided into seven clear parts:

    • (Re)sources, instruction and interaction
    • Methods and Styles of Exegesis
    • Metaphysics and Metaphysical Perspectives
    • Language, Knowledge, Soul, and Self
    • Nature: Physics, Medicine and Biology
    • Ethics, Political Theory and Aesthetics
    • The legacy of Neoplatonism.

    The Routledge Handbook of Neoplatonism is a major reference source for all students and scholars in Neoplatonism and ancient philosophy, as well as researchers in the philosophy of science, ethics, aesthetics and religion.

    General Introduction: Neoplatonism today Pauliina Remes & Svetla Slaveva-Griffin 

    Part 1: (Re)sources, instruction and interaction 

    Introduction 

    1. Platonist Curricula and their Influence Harold Tarrant 

    2. The Alexandrian Classrooms Excavated and Sixth-Century Philosophy Teaching Richard Sorabji 

    3. Middle Platonism and its Relation to Stoicism and the Peripatetic Tradition Gretchen Reydams-Schils and Franco Ferrari 

    4. Plotinus and the Gnostics John Turner 

    5. Plotinus and the Orient Vishwa Adluri 

    Part 2: Methods and Styles of Exegesis 

    Introduction 

    6. Aristotelian Commentary Tradition Han Baltussen 

    7. The Non-Commentary Tradition Andrew Smith 

    8. Plotinus' Style and Argument Luc Brisson 

    9. Proclus' Geometrical Method Marije Martijn 

    Part 3: Metaphysics and Metaphysical Perspectives 

    Introduction 

    10. Metaphysics: The Origin of Becoming and the Resolution of Ignorance Sara Ahbel-Rappe 

    11. The Metaphysics of the One Jens Halfwassen 

    12. Number in the Metaphysical Landscape Svetla Slaveva-Griffin 

    13. Substance Riccardo Chiaradonna 

    14. Matter and Evil in the Neoplatonic Tradition Jean-Marc Narbonne 

    Part 4: Language, Knowledge, Soul, and Self 

    Introduction 

    15. The Neoplatonists on Language and Philosophy Robbert van den Berg 

    16. Neoplatonic Epistemology Lloyd Gerson 

    17. Iamblichus on Soul John Finamore 

    18. From Alexander of Aphrodisias to Plotinus Frederic Schroeder 

    19. Metaphysics of Soul and Self in Plotinus Gwenaëlle Aubry 

    20. Perceptual Awareness in the Ancient Commentators Peter Lautner 

    Part 5: Nature: Physics, Medicine and Biology 

    Introduction 

    21. Physics and Metaphysics Alessandro Linguiti 

    22. Neoplatonism and Medicine James Wilberding 

    23. Humans, Other Animals, Plants and the Question of the Good Kevin Corrigan 

    Part 6: Ethics, Political Theory and Aesthetics 

    Introduction 

    24. Plotinus on Metaphysics and Morality Suzanne Stern-Gillet 

    25. Plotinus on Founding Freedom in Ennead VI.8[39] Bernard Collette-Dučić 

    26. Freedom, Providence and Fate Peter Adamson 

    27. Action, Reasoning and the Highest Good Pauliina Remes 

    28. Political Theory Dominic O'Meara 

    29. Plotinus' Aesthetics Panayiota Vassilopoulou 

    Part 7: Legacy 

    Introduction 

    30. Neoplatonism and Christianity Dermot Moran 

    31. Neoplatonism and Christianity in Late Antiquity Dimitar Y. Dimitrov 

    32. Islamic and Jewish Neoplatonisms Sarah Pessin. 

    Index

    Biography

    Pauliina Remes is University Lecturer in Philosophy at Uppsala University, Sweden. She is the author of Plotinus on Self: The Philosophy of the "We" (2007), and Neoplatonism (2008), and the editor of Ancient Philosophy of the Self (2008, with J. Sihvola) and Consciousness: From Perception to Reflection in the History of Philosophy (2007, with S. Heinämaa and V. Lähteenmäki).

    Svetla Slaveva-Griffin is Associate Professor of Classics and a core faculty in the History and Philosophy of Science Program at the Florida State University, USA. She has published on a wide range of topics in ancient philosophy, including Plotinus on Number (2009).

    A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, 2015

    'All of the essays are engagingly written, with a view to appealing to non-scholarly readers without compromising genuine scholarship. This definitive volume is one of the most comprehensive source books of secondary information on this fascinating philosophical movement. It includes copious notes and an extraordinary bibliography. Summing Up: Essential.' - P. A. Streveler, CHOICE

    'The overall quality is very high... unsurprising given that the essays are generally written by leading experts on each topic. The Handbook will be useful for a wide readership. Experts on Neoplatonism will find it useful, however, most of the articles are understandable to the non-expert and in many cases ideal for someone with some background in earlier Greek philosophy who wishes to familiarize themselves with Neoplatonism in some depth.' - Eyjólfur Kjalar Emilsson, University of Oslo, Norway