Neoplatonic Saints

"This volume presents two texts that are fundamental for the understanding not only of Neoplatonism but also of the conventions of biography in late antiquity. Porphyry's memoir, On the Life of Plotinus and the Arrangement of his Works, is a robust defence of the founder of Neoplatonism against posthumous criticism from astrologers and other philosophers. Written by one of his pupils, Porphyry, it is as much a vindication of its author as an encomium of its subject. Proclus, or On Happiness, also written by a pupil of the master, sets out to show how Proclus had lived his own philosophy. Both of these translations illuminate the ancient view that the worth of a philosopher derived as much from the quality of his life as the merits of his writings. Neither work has received such extensive annotation before in English, and this new commentary makes full use of recent scholarship. The long introduction is intended both as a beginner's guide to Neoplatonism and as a survey of ancient biographical writing."-- Publisher description.