An essay on the beautiful
Worth buying if: You want a short primary-text treatment of Plotinus on beauty.
Skip it if: You need modern annotated scholarship or extensive commentary.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781854772091. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
This 47-page edition gathers Plotinus’s essay on the nature of beauty, presented in Thomas Taylor’s English translation for readers interested in classical aesthetics and Neoplatonic thought.
Why this book now
A compact entry to Neoplatonic aesthetics that fits contemporary interest in classical sources and brief philosophical texts.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You want a short primary-text treatment of Plotinus on beauty.
- You value Thomas Taylor’s historical English translation style.
- If you want thoughtful reflections, the story centers on warm, domestic moments.
- You need modern annotated scholarship or extensive commentary.
- You prefer long-form secondary literature over primary excerpts.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781854772091
Worth buying if: You want a short primary-text treatment of Plotinus on beauty.
Skip it if: You need modern annotated scholarship or extensive commentary.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Quick Easy to move through
At 47 pages, this is a brief primary-text read suitable for a single sitting or careful slow reading with pauses for reflection.
What stands out here
This Woodstock Books edition highlights the original essay in Thomas Taylor’s translation, emphasizing the primary text rather than modern annotation.
Best way to approach it
Approach slowly and contemplatively: read passages aloud or reread short sections to absorb Plotinus’s dense philosophical language and images.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9781854772091
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.