Neo-Platonism

[Anonymous No.16160244]

What texts would you recommend for a comprehensive understanding of Neo-Platonism? Also a question: What is the difference between the Monad and Henads, and how does this difference relate to whether Neo-Platonism can be considered monotheistic, polytheistic, or a mixture of both?

[Anonymous No.16160263]

Bump

[Anonymous No.16160288]

>>16160244
>Elias and David: Introductions to Philosophy with Olympiodorus: Introduction to Logic
Is a good introduction to philosophy in general by Neoplatonists.
After that I would recommend
>Thinking Being: Introduction to Metaphysics in the Classical Tradition

[Anonymous No.16160328]

Neo-Platonism is just jews trying to larp as greeks, very very cringe. Also stop being infatuated with intellectuals, that's jewism at its finest.

[Anonymous No.16160345]

The Golden Chain edited by Uzdavinys is a great compilation of pre-Socratic, Platonic, and Neo-Platonic philosophy designed to show the esoteric background of these schools. Uzdavinys on the whole is an incredible scholar, all of whose books are worth reading. (His commentary of Plotinus is probably most relevant to your interests, but also check out Philosophy as Rite of Rebirth and Orpheus and the Roots of Platonism.)

In terms of primary sources, Plotinus' Enneads are the main expression of "Neo-Platonism." Proclus serves as the bridge between Plato and later Neo-Platonism; his commentary on Timaeus and Elements of Theology would be the books to check out.

A lot of scholarship nowadays argues quite convincingly that (Neo)-Platonism was heavily influenced by the thought of Egypt and the Near East, so it's illuminating to supplement your reading with sources from there. The Chaldean Oracles were a huge inspiration to the Greeks, and if you're looking for an ancient source on Egypt, Iamblichus' De Mysteriis is indispensable. For modern scholarship on Egypt, Jan Assmann has done great work on Egyptian thought.

Keep in mind that "Neo-Platonism" is a modern construction and something of a misnomer. I believe completely in the esoteric interpretation of Plato, and that much of his thought was to intellectualize traditions such as Orphism and the Eleusinian Mysteries. Almost any research you do on Greek religion will help broaden your understanding of Neo-Platonism, so Walter Burkert's Greek Religion is a great overview.

[Anonymous No.16160358]

>>16160328
>Neo-Platonism is just jews trying to larp as greeks
I think you've confused the chad Neoplatonists with Christian church fathers.

[Anonymous No.16160672]

>>16160345
>>16160288
Thank you so much anons