[VIII]. Reaction of supernaturalism on philosophy, [241]—Decline of Epicureanism, 241—Religious tendencies of Stoicism: Seneca, [241]—Complete substitution of theology for physics by Epictêtus, [243]—Why he rejected the doctrine of human immortality, [244]—Superstition of Marcus Aurelius, [245]—Decomposition of Stoicism: the Cynic revival, [246]—Neo-Pythagoreanism: its temporary alliance with Stoicism, [247]—and subsequent return to the spiritualism of Plato and Aristotle, 248—The Neo-Pythagorean creed, [249].
[IX]. Advantages possessed by Platonism in the struggle for existence, [250]—Great extent of its influence, [250]—The Platonist daemonology, [251]—Conflicting tendencies in Plutarch’s writings, [253]—Unmixed superstition of Maximus Tyrius and Apuleius, [254]—A prose hymn to Isis, [255]—Combination of philosophy with Oriental theology, [256]—Philo and the Logos, [257]—Dualistic pessimism of the Gnostics, [259].
[X]. Superficial analogy between modern Europe and the Roman empire, [261]—Analysis of the points on which they differ, [262]—Growth and influence of physical science, [264]—Spread of rationalism through all classes of society, [265].
THE SPIRITUALISM OF PLOTINUSpages 266-362
[I]. Plutarch on Delays in the Divine Vengeance, [266]—A vision of judgment, 267—Nero forgiven for the sake of Greece, [268]—A century of western supremacy in politics and literature, [268]—Reaction begun by Nero, [269]—Revival of Greek literature: Plutarch and his successors, [269]—Renewed cultivation of philosophy and science, [270]—Sophisticism and Platonism of the second century, [271]—The two methods of interpreting Plato, [272]—The problem of the age, [273].
[II]. Life of Plotinus, [273]—His personal influence and popularity, [275]—The part assigned to him in a dialogue of Leopardi’s, [277]—Composition and arrangement of his writings, [277]—Mythical elements in his biography, [280]—Alleged derivation of his teaching from Ammonius Saccas, [281].
[III]. Difficulties presented by the style of Plotinus, [282]—General clearness of his philosophy, [284]—His dependence on Plato and exclusive attention to the metaphysical side of Plato’s teaching, [285]—His unacknowledged obligations to Aristotle, [287].
[IV]. Plotinus on the spiritual interpretation of love and beauty, [287]—His departure from the method of Plato, [289]—Aristotelian influences, [290]—His subjective standpoint shared by Plato and Aristotle, [291]—Relation of the post-Aristotelian schools to their predecessors, [292]—The antithesis between materialism and spiritualism common to both, [292]—Services rendered by the later schools, [293].
[V]. Anti-materialistic arguments of Plotinus, [294]—Coincidence with modern philosophy, [295]—Criticism of the Aristotelian doctrine, [296]—Weakness of Greek philosophy in dealing with the phenomena of volition, [297]—Difficulties raised by astrology, [298]—Plotinus as a philosophical critic and reformer, [299].