Talk:Plotinus

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“The world is knowable, harmonious, and good.”

A comment was made in the article by IP that the first quote listed in the section for An Essay on the Beautiful was from Thomas Taylor in his introduction to his translation and not by Plotinus — and checking on things I saw that this was so, and also true of the second quote, so I have moved both to this page.


 * It may seem wonderful that language, which is the only method of conveying our conceptions, should, at the same time, be an hindrance to our advancement in philosophy; but the wonder ceases when we consider, that it is seldom studied as the vehicle of truth, but is too frequently esteemed for its own sake, independent of its connection with things.


 * That words, indeed, are not otherwise valuable than as subservient to things, must surely be acknowledged by every liberal mind, and will alone be disputed by him who has spent the prime of his life, and consumed the vigour of his understanding, in verbal criticisms and grammatical trifles. And, if this is the case, every lover of truth will only study a language for the purpose of procuring the wisdom it contains; and will doubtless wish to make his native language the vehicle of it to others. For, since all truth is eternal, its nature can never be altered by transposition, though by this means its dress may be varied, and become less elegant and refined. Perhaps even this inconvenience may be remedied by sedulous cultivation; at least, the particular inability of some, ought not to discourage the well-meant endeavours of others. Whoever reads the lives of the ancient Heroes of Philosophy, must be convinced that they studied things more than words, and that Truth alone was the ultimate object of their search; and he who wishes to emulate their glory and participate their wisdom, will study their doctrines more than their language, and value the depth of their understandings far beyond the elegance of their composition. The native charms of Truth will ever be sufficient to allure the truly philosophic mind; and he who has once discovered her retreats will surely endeavour to fix a mark by which they may be detected by others.

The fist quote form the introduction by Taylor has been quoted at lest once in another work (with proper citation to Taylor), and though I probably won't get around to doing it myself immediately, perhaps a page for Taylor should eventually be made. ~ ♞☮♌Kalki·†·⚓⊙☳☶⚡ 03:48, 27 September 2012 (UTC) + tweaks