Unlike other recent studies, Plotinus the Master and the Apotheosis of Imperial Platonism is critical of Plotinus, and in particular of his version of Platonism, here described as "Imperial." It is in contrast with Plato-a teacher whose dialogues challenge his students to think for themselves-that William H. F. Altman presents Plotinus as a master, who uses a seductive form of rhetoric throughout the Enneads to persuade his disciples to ignore his self-contradictions and decontextualized quotations from Plato while instead regarding his spiritual experiences, combined with a gift for the creative synthesis of previous thinkers, as the principal basis of their faithful and uncritical allegiance. While setting Plotinus in the context of the Roman Empire and his own critique of the Gnostics, this book grapples throughout with his current and virtually uncritical reception.
William H. F. Altman is an independent scholar.
Introduction: The Idea of Imperial Platonism Chapter 1. Plotinus the Master Section 1. Teachers and Masters Section 2. The Exegete of the Platonic Revelation Section 3. Platonic Exegesis 1: Theaetetus 176a8-b2 Section 4. Plotinian Exegesis 1: 4.8 Section 5. Defending the Master Section 6. Between Apollonius and Julian 1: Returning to the Cave Section 7. Plotinus and Plato's Ion Chapter 2. Porphyry the Disciple Section 1. Three Portraits of the Master in Porphyry's Life of Plotinus Section 2. The Master's Favorite Disciple Section 3. Plotinian Exegesis 2: Longinus, Concerning the End (20.68-76) Section 4. Between Apollonius and Julian 2: Pythagoras Reborn Section 5. Longinus, [Longinus], and Anti-Imperial Platonism Section 6. Platonic Exegesis 2: (R. 509b1-9) Section 7. The Other Side of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus Chapter 3. Porphyry's Successors Section 1. The Apologetic Moment in the Interpretation of Porphyry's Life of Plotinus Section 2. "A Text Worthy of Plotinus" Section 3. The Reason Why Section 4. Between Apollonius and Julian 3: Praising the Pagan Wise Man Section 5. Plotinian Exegesis 3: 5.5 Section 6. Platonic Exegesis 3: (R. 506d7-507a5) Section 7. Richard Harder and the Grossschrift Chapter 4. Imperial Platonism and the Gnostics Section 1. In Defense of Dualism Section 2. Nag Hammadi Section 3. Gnosticism as Anti-Imperial Platonism Section 4. Platonic Exegesis 4: Timaeus 28b2-c2, Republic 517a8-b6, Laws 945e2-946a1 Section 5. Between Apollonius and Julian 4: Solar Theology Section 6. Plotinian Exegesis 4: 2.9 Section 7. Mazurism Chapter 5. Pierre Hadot and the Real Plotinus Section 1. Between Apollonius and Julian 5: "The End of Paganism" Section 2. Mazur and Hadot Section 3. Hadot's Plotinus Section 4. Platonic Exegesis 5: Sophist 248e7-249a3 Section 5. The Real Plato? Section 6. Plotinian Exegesis 5: 6.7 Section 7. The Revival of Plotinus: Why Now? Chapter 6. Plotinus on Plato's One Section 1. Between Reading and Misreading: Apollonius and Julian 6 Section 2. Interpretive Sophistry Section 3. Why Plato's One is not the Idea of the Good Section 4. Plotinus the Demiurge Section 5. Platonic Exegesis 6: Parmenides 143a4-9 Section 6. The Pre-Existent "Stuff" of 6.6 Section 7. Plotinian Exegesis 6: 6.6 Chapter 7. The Rhetorical Apotheosis of Imperial Platonism Section 1. Plotinus Orator Section 2. Between Apollonius and Julian 7: Philostratus and Eunapius Section 3. Dispositio Section 4. Cosmos as Prophet and the Pagan Holy Man Section 5. Plotinian Exegesis 7: 4.7.10 Section 6. Platonic Exegesis 7: Letters 312e4-313a6 Section 7.
