By _Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie_, _A. M._, Harvard, _Ph. D._, Tulane.
This is a lucid, scholarly systematization of the views of Plotinos,
giving translation of important and useful passages. It is preceded by
a careful indication and exposition of his formative influences, and a
full biography dealing with his supposed obligations to Christianity.
Accurate references are given for every statement and quotation. The
exposition of, and references on Hermetic philosophy are by themselves
worth the price of the book.
Dr _Harris_, U.S. Commissioner of Education has written about it in the
highest terms. Dr. _Paul Carus_, Editor of the _Open Court_, devoted
half a page of the July 1897 issue to an appreciative and commendatory
Review of it. Among the many other strong commendations of the work are
the following:
From _G. R. S. Mead_, Editor _The Theosophical Review_, London:
It may be stated, on the basis of a fairly wide knowledge of
the subject, that the summary of our anonymous author is the
CLEAREST and MOST INTELLIGENT which has as yet appeared. The
writer bases himself upon the original text, and his happy
phrasing of Platonic terms and his deep sympathy with Platonic
thought proclaim the presence of a capable translator of
Plotinos amongst us....
To make so lucid and capable a compendium of the works of
so great a giant of philosophy as Plotinos, the author must
have spent much time in analysing the text and satisfying
himself as to the meaning of many obscure passages; to test
his absolute accuracy would require the verification of every
reference among the hundreds given in the tables at the end
of the pamphlet, and we have only had time to verify one or
two of the more striking. These are as accurate as anything
in a digest can rightly be expected to be. In addition to
the detailed chapters on the seven realms of the Plotinic
philosophy, on reincarnation, ethics, and æsthetics, we have
introductory chapters on Platonism, Aristotelianism, Stoicism,
and Emanationism, and on the relationship of Plotinos to
Christianity and Paganism.
Those who desire to enter into the Plotinian precincts of the
temple of Greek philosophy by the most expeditious path CANNOT
do BETTER than take this little pamphlet for their guide; it
is of course not perfect, but it is undeniably THE BEST which
has yet appeared. We have recommended the T.P.S. to procure
a supply of this pamphlet, for to our Platonic friends and
colleagues we say not only YOU SHOULD, but YOU MUST read it.
HUMAN BROTHERHOOD, NOV. 1897, in a very extended and most
commendatory review, says: TOO GREAT PRAISE COULD HARDLY
BE BESTOWED upon this scholarly contribution to Platonic
literature.
_Net price, cloth bound, post-paid, $1.31._
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant
preference was found in this four-volume set; otherwise they were not
changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected. Inconsistent capitalization
has not been changed.
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.