The Golden Chain: An Anthology of Pythagorean and Platonic Philosophy

by Algis Uždavinys (editor), John F. Finamore (foreword)

The goal of the ancient philosophers was to understand how to live in harmony with nature and to transcend the limitations imposed by sense experience and discursive reasoning.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Spirituality, Theology, Esoterica

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Was a prolific Lithuanian philosopher and scholar.
His research included works on hellenic philosophy , especially Platonism and Neoplatonism as well
a pioneering hermeneutical comparative study of Egyptian and Greek religions, especially their esoteric relations to Semitic religions, and in particular the inner aspect of Islam

Reviews

[Tony Gualtieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant collection of Pythagorean and Neoplatonic writings, including extended excerpts from Plotinus, Iamblichus, and Proclus. This is a fine survey of the pagan philosophy of late antiquity, a profound influence on Christian mysticism and Islamic Sufism, and an intriguing metaphysical system.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antologi av antika och medeltida texter med anknytning till axeln Pythagoras - Platon. Användbar om man är nybörjare.

[A.J. McMahon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have found that the thinkers represented here are not for me. My chief objection to their writings is their gnostic hatred of the world. They repeatedly refer to the world as a prison, to the body as a tomb, to the spiritual necessity to develop the philosophical intellect in order to escape all material attachments, to despise everything to do with the world, to hate and drive away all passion, wealth, the joys of the flesh. One even says that "The body is the root of evil". Some people argue that part of the ecological problems we experience today is due to the emphasis Christianity and other religions place on the life to come as opposed to our mortal world, resulting in our world being devalued by this comparison. It's clear from this anthology that this particular mind-set began long before Christianity, and indeed Christianity seems to have inherited it along with a whole lot of other beliefs.
Update to this review (mid-November 2019): my subsequent reading has left me wondering who on earth this Uzdavinys guy is. Given what I now know, he has seriously misrepresented Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy if what I have said in this review is what I got out of his book. Ignore this book. Also, ignore everything else this guy has ever written.

[Maan Kawas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book of deep wisdom and shows the real meaning of ancient Greek philosophy. The book is not an easy one but it's a great one. If you are interested in understanding Pythagoras', Plato' and the Neoplatonic tradition, you might enjoy this book.

[Minäpäminä · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intellectual buried treasure, so very interesting and very dry. In addition to the obvious Plato and Plotinus, Damascius really made an impression.

[harcourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to those familiar with Pythagoras and the Platonists, but haven't read and don't care enough to read all of their literature. It also includes their fascinating lives and maxims.