On the Life of Plotinus (the Enneads)

In this session, we’ll listen to The Life of Plotinus (about an hour), which serves as an introduction to his collected work, the Enneads. Written by his student Porphyry, this remarkable biography tells the story of how Plotinus actually lived — his character, habits, teaching style, and spiritual discipline.

Rather than theory alone, we encounter a philosopher who embodied Platonism: detached from fame, focused on inner purification, and devoted to contemplation of the Good.

Here's the text and video if you’d like to check them out beforehand:

Text: On the Life of Plotinus
Video: https://youtu.be/0asxKqHr1yA?si=CATBB9zKy25-il19

After listening, we’ll open a shared discussion around questions such as:

• What stands out about Plotinus’ way of life?
• How did he practice philosophy day to day?
• What does it mean to live Platonism rather than just study it?

No prior knowledge of Plotinus is required — just curiosity, goodwill, and a willingness to dialogue together.