Ennead II Hardcover – January 1, 1966

The second volume in the Loeb edition of the works of Plotinus contain the second Ennead which in itself contains treatises 2.1-9. This volume features such subjects as a polemical attack on the systems of the Gnostics and astrology; also, a treatise on matter and the movement of the heavens is included. There are a few shorter treatises: of note is the treatise on substance and another which discusses the nature of potentiality and actuality. Overall, the Loeb edition of Plotinus is simply the best available, as it contains the Greek text with an excellent translation and scholarly introductions and synopses prior to each treatise.

This was not as enjoyable to read as the first Loeb series of Plotinus Ennead I. In this volume or Ennead II contains"On the Heaven"--a discourse on the incorruptibility of the heavenly bodies and heaven itself. It was one of the major disagreements between the Pagans and the Christians. "For we should not say that darkness is visible but that it is invisible, just as noiselessness is inaudible.""On the movement of Heaven"--the soul is at the center of the source from which the other nature derives."On whether the stars are causes"--things are filled full of signs for it is the wise man who can learn about one thing from another. But all contribute to the whole, and are therefore related to each other in a way that brings advantage to the whole, as we see that all parts individually are of a living thing."On Matter"--this treatise is critical of both Stoics and Aristotle."On what exists potentially and what actually"--Plotinus tells a story about the bronze and the statue."On substance or on quality"--...and in the intelligible world all qualities, as we call them, must be assumed to be activities...because each and every one of them is an individual character."On complete transfusion"--this is influenced by the teachings of Alexander of Aphrodisias."On sight or how distant objects appear,"--negligible to recount.and one of the most famous treaties is "Against the Gnostic's,"--this was written to protest the Hellenic philosophy against the un-Hellenic heresy of Gnosticism. Plotnius and his pupils devoted a lot of time to anti-Gnostic controversies. On some level, Plotinus is united with the Christian belief that "god alone is interested and who are saved not by their own admonition but by some divine proceeding." Additionally, it does not good at all to say "look to god," unless one also teaches how one is to look. In reality, it is virtue which goes before us to the goal and, when it comes to exist in the soul along with wisdom, shows God, but God if you talk about him without true virtue, is only a name."