Plotinus (204/5–270 AD), the most influential follower and supporter of Plato, was the first and greatest of the Neoplatonic philosophers. Almost nothing is known about his early life, but at the age of 28, he went to Alexandria and studied philosophy with Ammonius "Saccas". Wishing to learn the philosophy of the Persians and Indians, he participated in Gordian III's campaign against the Persians in 243, and was in danger. At the age of 40, he settled in Rome, where he taught philosophy until shortly before his death. In 253, he began to write and continued to do so until the last year of his life. His writings were edited by his student, Porphyry, who published them many years after his teacher's death in six groups of nine treatises. Plotinus regarded Plato as his teacher, and his philosophy is a deeply original development of Platonic thought from the first two centuries of the Christian era and closely related Neopythagorean thought, with some influences from Aristotle and his followers, as well as the Stoics, whose writings he was familiar with but used critically. There is no real indication of Eastern influence in his thinking, and he was passionately opposed to Gnosticism. He is a unique combination of mystic and Greek rationalist. His thought dominated later Greek philosophy and influenced both Christians and Muslims, and it is still alive today due to the union of reason and intense religious experience.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Plotinus is in seven volumes. Pages: 352, Year of Publication: 0101, Dimensions: 10.8x10.8cm.