Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/plotinus/enneads-1.asp?pg=81

ELPENOR - Home of the Greek Word

Three Millennia of Greek Literature
PLOTINUS HOME PAGE  

Plotinus ENNEADS - THE FIRST ENNEAD Complete

Translated by Stephen MacKenna and B. S. Page.

Plotinus Resources OnLine and in Print

ELPENOR EDITIONS IN PRINT

The Original Greek New Testament

» Contents of this Ennead

106 pages - You are on Page 81

SEVENTH TRACTATE.

ON THE PRIMAL GOOD AND SECONDARY FORMS OF GOOD [OTHERWISE, “ON HAPPINESS”].

1. We can scarcely conceive that for any entity the Good can be other than the natural Act expressing its life-force, or in the case of an entity made up of parts the Act, appropriate, natural and complete, expressive of that in it which is best.

For the Soul, then, the Good is its own natural Act.

But the Soul itself is natively a “Best”; if, further, its act be directed towards the Best, the achievement is not merely the “Soul’s good” but “The Good” without qualification.

Now, given an Existent which — as being itself the best of existences and even transcending the existences — directs its Act towards no other, but is the object to which the Act of all else is directed, it is clear that this must be at once the Good and the means through which all else may participate in Good.

This Absolute Good other entities may possess in two ways — by becoming like to It and by directing the Act of their being towards It.

Previous Page / First / Next Page of Plotinus - FIRST ENNEAD

Plotinus Home Page / Enneads Contents

Plato Home Page ||| Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons
Three Millennia of Greek Literature

 

Greek Literature - Ancient, Medieval, Modern

  Plotinus Home Page
Plotinus in Print

Elpenor's Greek Forum : Post a question / Start a discussion

Learned Freeware

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/plotinus/enneads-1.asp?pg=81