Iamblichus: The Exhortation to Philosophy: Including the Letters of Iamblichus & Proclus Commentary on the Chaldean Oracles

by Iamblichus, Thomas Johnson

Rare work by a fourth-century philosopher is also an introduction to the study of Plato.

Genres: Philosophy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 300

About the author

Iamblichus, also known as Iamblichus Chalcidensis, or Iamblichus of Apamea (Ancient Greek: Ιάμβλιχος, probably from Syriac or Aramaic ya-mlku, "He is king", c. 245–c. 325), was a Syrian Neoplatonist philosopher who determined the direction taken by later Neoplatonic philosophy. He is perhaps best known for his compendium on Pythagorean philosophy.
(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Constantinos Nterziotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of neoplatonic philosopher Iamblichos is a great synopsis of many teachings of ancient hellenic philosophy. I found pythagorian, platonic, aristotelic, neoplatonic teachings as well as pre-socratic, orphic... with the platonic current lead all the way to the end. Inside there are basic teachings from all schools written in a clear way, with a great flow of thinking and many of the teachings are repeated, so the reader consolidates them. Not only it is a guide to philosophy, but a guide to life too, as by practicing the virtues of philosophy and leading ourselves with fronisis we obtain happiness (eudaimonia). The book is highly recommended to all.

[Christopher Plaisance · Rating 4 out of 5]

In providing an exhortation as to why one ought to practice Platonic philosophy (and, when Iamblichus says "philosophy," he means "philosophy qua theurgy) this tract of Iamblichus has no peers. The translation, as well, is quite excellent and sympathetic — marred only by the exclusion of the original Greek.

[Katelis Viglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already have written a review of this book. I submitted it to the Greek journal of philosophy called "Dialogos".

[Tal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iamblichus is all about Neo-Platonic *theurgy* in particular, but Proclus, in drawing from the Pythagorean mystical tradition...

..oh man, I was cracking up. There are some totally psychotic doctrines in Pythagoreanism that this guy tries to exigetically illuminate by explaining the metaphor behind it.

Here's a famous doctrine of the Pythagoreans: Beans are (literally) evil. Do not eat or touch beans.

Proclus spends a ridiculous amount of time rationalizing this *incredibly straightforward* rule and explaining what it "really" means. You know, metaphorically, exigetically, allegorically, whatever.

COME ON. It made me feel like I was reading the mystical equivalent of political satire. I actually felt sorry for this earnest, devoted guy, trying so hard to justify total lunacy.

If that part wasn't so farcical, his work really deserves four stars for contextual coherence, or even five for historical influence.

[Abrandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fascinating study of value-production, much as in Karl Marx's Poverty of Philosophy, in which circulation of currency is demonstrated mainly via agriculture and trade.