The religious philosophy of Plotinus and some modern philosophies of religion: A Neoplatonic Critique of Modernity: Rediscovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Plotinus

by William Ralph Inge, Víctor Stanger (Editor), Proyecto Alejandría (Editor)

In his 1914 lecture, The Religious Philosophy of Plotinus and some modern philosophies of religion, William Ralph Inge offers a scholarly critique of contemporary religious thought. Delivered on the eve of the First World War, the essay contrasts the prevailing philosophies of the era with the metaphysical framework of Plotinus. Inge challenges the then-dominant narratives of inevitable progress, advocating for a return to the spiritual and intellectual depth of Neoplatonism as a corrective to modern intellectual fragmentation.
For many years, access to this significant essay was limited by the poor quality of existing digital versions. Previous digitization efforts produced texts compromised by frequent character errors, inconsistent formatting, and a loss of the original academic structure. The integrity of critical scholarly elements, including footnotes and citations, was often lost in this process, making serious study of the work difficult and unreliable.
This edition from Proyecto Alejandría is the result of a meticulous restoration process designed to produce a definitive version of the text. Through careful correction and verification, the original lecture has been recovered with a high degree of fidelity. The academic integrity of the work has been fully restored, with all footnotes and citations correctly placed and the original structure preserved. The resulting publication offers a reliable and accessible resource for students, academics, and researchers engaged with philosophy, religious studies, and the history of ideas.

36 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2025

About the author

Sir William Ralph Inge was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. After taking a double first in Classics, he became a tutor at Hertford College, Oxford, and was made a deacon in the Church of England in 1888. After a time as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, Inge was elected Dean of St. Paul's cathedral in 1911 by Asquith, a position he held until 1934.

During his life, Inge was President of the Aristotelian society, a columnist for the Evening Standard, a fellow of the British Academy, and a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. He received honorary doctorates from Oxford, Aberdeen, Durham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, and St. Andrews. Inge received honorary fellowships from King's and Jesus Colleges, Cambridge, and Hertford College, Oxford.