The Enneads by Plotinus is one of the central works of late antiquity and a cornerstone of Neoplatonism. Written in the 3rd century CE, these six treatises explore the relationship between the One, the Intellect, and the Soul, offering a metaphysical system that deeply influenced early Christian theology, Islamic philosophy, and Renaissance thinkers such as Marsilio Ficino.
Plotinus’ philosophy is both systematic and mystical. He describes the emanation of all existence from the ineffable One, the return of the soul to its divine source, and the practices of contemplation and virtue that lead toward union with ultimate reality. In The Enneads we find reflections on beauty, time, eternity, evil, and the soul’s immortality.
This translation by Stephen MacKenna, produced between 1917 and 1930, remains one of the most readable and poetic English renderings. It is in the public domain and presented here in full for students of philosophy, spirituality, and the history of ideas.
If you are interested in the philosophical roots of mysticism, the dialogue between Greek thought and early Christianity, or the metaphysical structures that shaped Western tradition, The Enneads is an essential text.
