The Enneads

This was done so as to be easily viewed at a glance. Delighting in maintaining the number nine, and because I happened to hit upon both a perfect number and these "groups of nine" original: "ἐννεάσιν" (enneasin) — hence the title Enneads, I have divided the fifty-four books into six groups of nine. Indeed, I distributed his entire treatise into six Enneads. In the First Ennead, I arranged the more ethical subjects, which are as follows:

1. On what is the Living Being and what is Man.
2. On Virtues.
3. On Happiness original: "εὐδαιμονίας" (eudaimonias) — refers to human flourishing or the highest good..
4. Whether Happiness increases with the extension of time.
5. On the Beautiful.
7. On the First Good and other virtues. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. From where do Evils come.
9. On the Rational Exit original: "εὐλόγου ἐξαγωγῆς" — a Stoic and Neoplatonic term for suicide..

This, then, is the first Ennead, containing ethical themes. We then arranged the Second Ennead, which contains physical matters; in it, we cataloged the things concerning the cosmos and what pertains to it. It contains the following:

1. On the World.
2. On Circular Motion.
3. On Fate.
4. On Generation.
5. On how the Stars act.
7. On Matter. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. On the fact that Acting is not Being.
9. Against the Gnostics.

The Third Ennead, also containing physical matters, we arranged to include the contemplations original: "θεωρίας" (theorias) — refers to philosophical vision or study. regarding the cosmos. It contains the following:

1. On the Descent into the Cosmos.
2. On Providence.
3. On Providence (second part).
4. On the Spirit original: "δαίμονος" (daimonos) — a personal guardian or guiding spirit, not a "demon" in the modern sense. that has fallen to our lot.
5. On Love.
7. On the fact that Causes are Incorporeal. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. On Contemplation and the Ascent to the One.
9. On the Contemplations regarding the Cosmos.

These three Enneads are thus arranged together in one volume. The Fourth Ennead, containing the contemplation regarding the Soul, holds the fourth place in order. It contains the following:

1. On the Contemplation of the Soul.
2. On the Essence of the Soul.
3. On the Difficulties original: "ἀποριῶν" (aporiōn) — philosophical puzzles or "dead-ends" that require resolution. of the Soul.
4. On the Difficulties of the Soul (second part).
5. On the Difficulties of the Soul (third part).
7. On the Immortality of the Soul. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. On the Descent of the Soul into Bodies.
9. On Sensation and Memory.

We then arranged the Fifth Ennead, containing in it the theorems regarding the Mind original: "νοῦ" (nou) — often translated as Intellect or Divine Mind.,

where they are examined positively and do not come into being. This Ennead contains:

1. On the Three Primary Hypostases original: "ὑποστάσεων" (hypostaseōn) — the fundamental levels of reality: The One, Mind, and Soul..
2. On the Generation of things after the First, and on the First.
3. On the Intellectual Hypostases, and that which is Beyond.
4. On the fact that the Intelligible objects are not outside the Mind.
5. On the fact that the Intelligible is not outside the Mind, and on the Good.
7. On the Ascent to the Intelligible realm. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. On the Genera of Being.
9. On how the Second comes from the First, and on the One.

These are the five Enneads. The Sixth Ennead contains the theorems regarding the One, as well as the genera of being, the Good, and the One. It contains the following:

1. On the Genera of Being (first part).
2. On the Genera of Being (second part).
3. On the Genera of Being (third part).
4. On the fact that Being is everywhere whole and one.
5. On the fact that Being is everywhere whole and one (second part).
7. On the Intellectual Hypostases. The original text skips number 6 in this sequence.
8. On the Good and the One.
9. On the Free Will and Volition of the One.
10. On the Good or the One.

In this manner, I divided the books of Plotinus, which are fifty-four in number, into six Enneads. I, Porphyry, have published the summaries original: "ὑποθέσεις" (hypotheseis) for them, and I have placed the headings original: "κεφάλαια" (kephalaia) — table of contents or chapter titles. of the discourses under them all, except for the one "On the Beautiful," because it was not at hand for us. Thus, in addition to the summaries and headings, one possesses not only the works of Plotinus but also the explanations of Porphyry concerning them.