Plotinus on the Beautiful

This season on aesthetics kicks off with an essay on the nature of beauty, written by Ancient Greek philosopher Plotinus. Plotinus argues against the tendency of language to conceal truth, and promotes the pursuit of understanding over mere verbal analysis. It explores the nature of beauty, first by examining how beauty manifests in physical objects and then by examining the beauty of the soul. Plotinus ultimately argues that true beauty lies in the realm of intellect, a realm of pure and perfect being that is accessible only to those who have purified their souls.