Plotinus on Individuation

New translation and first running commentary in English of Plotinus’s V. 7 [18].

No other Neoplatonic text has sparked as much debate as Ennead V. 7 [18] of Plotinus, ‘On the question of whether there are also Forms of individuals’. In this text, Plotinus is believed to postulate the existence of Forms of individuals alongside the traditional Platonic Forms of genera and species. If so, Plotinus stands as the sole figure in Platonism to advocate this problematic theory. Regrettably, most research on V. 7 [18] has focused solely on the Forms of individuals, overlooking other interesting aspects. This book demonstrates how Plotinus reconciles transmigration and biological heredity within his metaphysics of individuality, addressing a longstanding challenge for ancient philosophers from Pythagoras on. Plotinus’ theory of individuation represents a significant innovation in ancient thought. Plotinus on Individuation offers a comprehensive assessment of V. 7 [18], providing a new translation and the first running commentary in English.

Filling an important void, this book enriches the scholarship on Plotinus and contributes considerably to the growing interest in Plotinus’ natural philosophy and the natural philosophies of the Neoplatonists in general.

"Plotinus on Individuation" was written by Ina Schall.

Ina Schall obtained her PhD in Ancient Philosophy through an international cotutelle program between the University of Cologne and the Catholic University of America.

Yes, "Plotinus on Individuation" is part of the "Ancient and Medieval Philosophy - Series 1" series.

In association with The De Wulf-Mansion Centre.

About the Series

The series' focus lies primarily on the continuity and thematic transitions between ancient, medieval and renaissance thought, but also includes volumes on specific topics related to any of those periods. ‘Philosophy' is understood broadly to include metaphysics, ethics, natural philosophy, epistemology and philosophy of mind, and philosophical theology. Since the series is particularly devoted to making available Latin and Greek source texts, we welcome critical text editions as well as contributions that are based on philological scrutiny of those texts, without losing sight of their philosophical importance.

Ancient and Medieval Philosophy - Series 1 aims to publish at least two volumes a year and accepts monographs as well as thematically coherent edited volumes in English (without excluding the possibility of French, German, or Italian contributions to edited volumes). Manuscripts should be 80.000 to 120.000 words in length.

Readership

Researchers and graduate students in ancient, medieval and renaissance philosophy, in classics and in history.

Editorial Coordinator

Russell Friedman, KU Leuven, Belgium

Editorial Board

Pieter Beullens, KU Leuven, Belgium
Lisa Devriese, KU Leuven, Belgium
Pieter d'Hoine, KU Leuven, Belgium
Jan Opsomer, KU Leuven, Belgium
Jenny Pelletier, KU Leuven, Belgium
Andrea Robiglio, KU Leuven, Belgium
Carlos Steel, KU Leuven, Belgium
Gerd Van Riel, KU Leuven, Belgium

Advisory Board

Brad Inwood, Yale Universityo, USA
Jill Kraye, The Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom
John Marenbon, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Lodi Nauta, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Timothy Noone (†) , The Catholic University of America, USA
Robert Pasnau, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
Martin Pickavé, University of Toronto, Canada,
Pasquale Porro, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Geert Roskam, KU Leuven, Belgium

Proposals

Proposals and enquiries can be sent to  editorial coordinator Russell L. Friedman. Please send a preliminary abstract (3-4 pp.) and a short bio. Upon approval of this abstract, the full manuscript will be submitted to international peer review.

Please make use of the submission form to present the full manuscript to our board.
Authors interested in Open Access can consult the available funding options.

Links & Resources

Yes, "Plotinus on Individuation" is published Open Access. It is available under a BY-NC-ND license.

Publication of "Plotinus on Individuation" was funded by KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access
.

Acknowledgements

Part I. Introduction: Structure, content, and controversies of V. 7 [18]

1. Individuation, embryology, and transmigration in Plotinus

2. Clarification of key terms a) Individual/individuals (kathekaston/kathekasta)
   b) Forming principles (logos/logoi)

3. The style of V. 7 [18] and its place within the Enneads
   a) Difficulties in writing style and argument
   b) V. 7 [18] and the Fifth Ennead
   c) V. 7 [18] and the chronological order of Plotinus’ treatises

4. Structure and fundamental topics in V. 7 [18]
   a) Plotinus’ theory of individuals and logoi
   b) Logoi in the doctrine of transmigration
   c) Plotinus’ embryology
   d) Stoic influence in V. 7 [18]

5. Forms of individuals in Plotinus? A lengthy debate
   5.1 Three readings of V. 7 [18]
   5.2 First reading: V. 7 [18] is about Forms of sensible individuals
   a) Heinemann, Trouillard, Harder, Rist
   b) Blumenthal, Mamo, Rist
   c) Struggling with the doctrine of transmigration
   d) Graeser, O’Meara, Petit, Stern-Gillet, Sikkema
   5.3 Second reading: V. 7 [18] is about Forms of intelligible individuals (Form-Intellects and soul-Forms)
   a) Armstrong, Gerson
   b) Kalligas, Ferrari, Tornau
   5.4 Third reading: V. 7 [18] is about logoi of sensible individuals
   a) Vassilopoulou, Remes, Aubry, Wilberding
   5.5 Summary of the scholarly debate

Part II. Synopsis, Greek Text, and Translation

1. Synopsis

2. Greek text of V. 7 [18]
   a) Consulted editions, translations, and commentaries
   b) Dictionaries
   c) Remarks on Plotinus’ works and style

3. Ennead V. 7 [18]

4. English translation

Part III. Commentary

1. V. 7 [18] 1: Principles of individuals – Forms or logoi?

2. V. 7 [18] 2: Embryology – How are logoi passed on from parents to offspring?

3. V. 7 [18] 3 : Do seemingly identical individuals actualise the same logoi-combination?

Bibliography
1. Editions and Translations
2. Secondary Literature

Index Locorum
Index of Names and Subjects

The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for "Plotinus on Individuation" is 10.11116/9789461665966.