The Six Enneads

The Six Enneads is a book by Plotinus, first composed in the mid-3rd century CE (ca. 250 CE), and here presented in the celebrated English translation by Stephen MacKenna (with B. S. Page). It is the core corpus of Neoplatonic philosophy, edited and organized by his disciple Porphyry.

This edition expresses the lofty metaphysical vision of Plotinus in vivid, poetic English and remains a touchstone for serious students of classical philosophy, contemplative tradition, and Western spirituality. Plotinus, a philosopher in the Hellenistic Roman world, crafted these writings to explore the nature of the One (the Good), the descent of the intellect (Nous), and the soul’s journey of return (henosis).

His influence resonates through Augustine, the Cappadocian Fathers, Pseudo-Dionysius, and later Christian, Islamic, and Renaissance thinkers. This translation by MacKenna is especially prized for its literary elegance, offering a compelling blend of metaphysical depth and poetic clarity.

A modern reader engaging with this text encounters not just a philosophical treatise but a meditative guide to the ascent of the soul. Through discourses on beauty, intellect, virtue, and the nature of reality, this version of The Six Enneads invites reflection on the eternal, the invisible structure behind the world of senses, and the path toward spiritual integration.