After Pythagoras

Republic, Laws, and Timaeus

In this profound synthesis of 'Republic,' 'Laws,' and 'Timaeus,' Plato bridges the gap between the earthly and the divine. He argues that virtue is not merely a behavior, but a liberation of the soul achieved through alignment with the celestial sphere and the internalizing of 'common conceptions.'

Physics, Metaphysics, and Ethics

This text serves as the foundation for Western natural philosophy by demanding that we identify the 'why' behind every phenomenon. Aristotle rejects the idea that the universe results from random chance. He argues that nature operates with clear purpose and that every change requires a specific caus

Pal.gr.173

Pal.gr.173 functions as a practical manual for the soul. It moves beyond abstract theory to confront the actual stakes of living well in an unjust world. You will encounter a Socratic method that values clear thinking over popularity and moral integrity over political safety. The text forces a confr

On Paradoxical Machines

In 'On Paradoxical Machines,' Anthemius of Tralles offers a rare synthesis of high Euclidean theory and the practical grit of Byzantine engineering. As one of the master architects of Constantinople, Anthemius argues that the most profound challenges of the physical world—from the construction of bu

Urb.gr.31

Plato presents a brutal inquiry into the nature of justice and the health of the human soul. He argues that justice is not a social compromise but a requirement for inner harmony. You will discover why political leadership requires a rare, philosophical rigor that society almost always rejects. The

Vat.gr.126

This text provides a cold, clinical autopsy of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides rejects supernatural explanations to focus exclusively on political mechanics and military strategy. He argues that the growth of Athenian power made conflict with Sparta a mathematical certainty. By studying his accoun

Plato . Platon . Platonis Dialogi

This collection captures the urgent, living spirit of Socratic inquiry at its most potent. Plato argues that we must abandon the distractions of the physical realm to grasp eternal truths. He warns that writing creates a dangerous illusion of wisdom by substituting memorized facts for internal under

The Enneads

The Enneads

The Enneads is a towering achievement of late antiquity that reshaped the trajectory of Western and Near-Eastern thought, influencing everything from Christian theology to Islamic mysticism. Plotinus presents a bold metaphysical hierarchy—the One, the Intellect, and the Soul—arguing that true happin

Rhetoric and Poetics

This work serves as a masterclass in the technical composition of speech. It moves beyond abstract theory to provide a concrete manual for handling every public scenario from funeral orations to political debate. Aristotle argues that rhetoric is a neutral art form that relies on the moral character

Aristotle (Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1732)

Aristotle argues here that the universe is finite, ordered, and governed by natural laws that leave no room for the random or the infinite. He rejects the idea of a chaotic cosmos, insisting that everything from the path of a comet to the development of an embryo follows a predictable, purposeful de

Vat.gr.1892

Vat.gr.1892 serves as a collision between the rigorous discipline of classical logic and the volatile nature of ecclesiastical polemics. The author demands that we treat faith as a subject of scientific inquiry, demanding strict adherence to the causes and definitions that govern existence. You will

Diversorum scriptorum Opera varia . Diaphoron syngrapheon Erga diaphora . Titulum corrige Platonis Opera omnia cum prolegomenis

Plato’s work functions as a complete framework for human conduct and cosmic understanding. He moves beyond simple dialogue to categorize the structure of reality, linking music, numbers, and political virtue to the divine. Each page challenges the reader to distinguish between fleeting sensory opini

Plotinus . Plotinos . Scilicet Plotini Enneades VI et Maximi Tyrii Dissertationes XI

Plotinus strips away the distractions of the physical world to reveal the singular, transcendent source of all being. The text documents the final philosophical ascent of a man who viewed his own body as a temporary, secondary image. You will encounter arguments that collapse the boundaries between

Philosophical and Literary Miscellany

Vat.gr.2181 is a multi-layered interrogation of the Greek soul, weaving together the technical precision of poetic metrics with the subversive chaos of Old Comedy. Through the works of Aristophanes and the reflections of Porphyry, the manuscript explores the corrupting influence of money on the poli

Cologny, Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cod. Bodmer 136

In this legendary account of Socrates’ final day, Plato (narrated through Phaedo) investigates the profound relationship between the soul, the divine, and the morality of existence. The text presents a startlingly calm Socrates who argues that humans are the 'possessions of the gods,' framing life a

Aristotle (Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.5.44)

This manuscript challenges the modern assumption that ethics is merely a list of rules. Aristotle argues that virtue is a stable state of the soul formed through habit and deliberate action. He draws a hard line between theoretical wisdom and practical prudence, insisting that knowing what is right

Greek philosophical miscellany (Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16)

This manuscript acts as a master key to Aristotelian thought, blending ethics, rhetoric, and political theory into a single argument about the human condition. It insists that happiness is not a feeling but an active practice of virtue that requires a lifetime to achieve. The text does not just theo

Plato De legibus . Platonos Nomoi . Ac praeterea alii eiusdem [Platonis] Dialogi tum gnesioi, tum nothoi, Definitiones, et epistolae

This work represents the peak of Plato's political thought, moving beyond abstract theories of justice to the mechanics of statecraft. He argues that laws are empty without the internal habits of virtue that only education can provide. Plato forces the reader to confront the reality that excess and

The Organon

Problemata (Problems)

In this extraordinary synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and ancient medical praxis, Iamblichus presents the human body as a microcosm governed by the same harmonic principles as the stars. Moving beyond simple biography, the text offers a 'regimen according to reason,' tackling everything from the

The Enneads

The Enneads is a monumental achievement in Western philosophy, serving as the bridge between classical Hellenic thought and the burgeoning spiritual traditions of Late Antiquity. Plotinus offers a unique perspective on reality, viewing the physical world as a mere 'image of an image' while positing

Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini

This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad

Nicomachean Ethics (with Averroes' Commentary)

This volume presents Aristotle's primary investigations into ethics and politics, refined by the historical commentary of Averroes and the editorial precision of Leonardo Bruni. The text moves beyond abstract theory to define the human function as an active expression of reason. It rejects the idea

Politics

This work moves beyond theoretical daydreams to address the hard realities of social existence. Aristotle insists that the city exists for the sake of living well, not merely for survival. He evaluates every major form of government, from kingship to democracy, to see which structures actually prese

Plato, Cratylus and Secular Florilegium

This work presents an unflinching look at the architecture of a well-lived life. It asserts that true virtue is not an action but a deliberate choice to align the soul with divine reason. By dismantling the common obsession with physical gratification, the text demands that we prioritize the health

Aristotle's Metaphysics

This text defines wisdom as the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake rather than for survival or utility. Aristotle challenges the pre-Socratic reliance on matter and rejects the Platonic dependence on separate Forms. He argues that being is not a vague concept but a structure defined by substance

The Complete Works of Plato Translated by Marsilio Ficino

This collection serves as a portal to the mind of Plato as seen through the eyes of one of the 15th century's most influential thinkers. Ficino treats philosophy not as a sterile academic exercise but as a medicine for the soul. He constructs an argument for the harmony between pagan wisdom and Chri

Corpus Hermeticum and Plotinus' Enneads (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.9.9)

This rare collection documents the struggle of the human soul to recognize its divine origin while trapped in the sensible world. It presents the Hermetic tradition as an intuitive, performative realization of truth, contrasted against the systematic, dialectical path of Plotinus. The text argues th

Homer (Cambridge, Christ's College, MS Rouse 358)

This volume houses the foundational texts of Western literature, tracing the fury of Achilles at Troy and the desperate wandering of Odysseus. It presents a world where divine whims shatter mortal lives and where individual glory often demands an unbearable price. Homer avoids simple morality, choos

The Complete Works of Plato

This monumental edition of Plato’s *Opera Omnia* is more than a translation; it is a sacred bridge between Greek antiquity and Renaissance humanism, curated by Marsilio Ficino to harmonize philosophy with divine religion. Within these pages, readers will find the 'divine' Plato—a thinker who argues

Enneads (1580 Greek-Latin, Ficino trans.)

The Enneads

The Enneads represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, a monumental synthesis where logic meets mysticism. Through the lens of Marsilio Ficino’s Renaissance commentary, Plotinus’s work is presented as a 'philosophical bait' designed to lead the intellectual mind toward religious faith through p

The Enneads

The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

This 1590 edition of Plato’s 'Complete Works' serves as a spiritual and intellectual map of the human condition, viewed through the transformative Neoplatonic lens of Marsilio Ficino. Synthesizing classical dialectic with religious piety, the text argues that the ultimate end of man is to achieve a

Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles

Porphyry’s 'Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles' offers a rare window into the ancient quest for spiritual deification through intellect and discipline. By blending a hagiography of Pythagoras—complete with his rejection of the 'impure' Cylon and his cryptic dietary bans—with a rig

Ocellus Lucanus: On the Nature of the Universe

Ocellus Lucanus challenges the notion that the universe was born or will ever die. He presents a vision of a self-contained, eternal cosmos where every part serves the whole. The editor, Carlo Emanuele Vizzani, anchors these ancient claims in scholarly debate, contrasting them with Peripatetic physi

Plato Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus

Plato documents the final days of his teacher, Socrates, as he confronts a city that wants him dead. The text moves from the courtroom to the prison cell, eventually shifting into deep metaphysical inquiry. It argues that philosophy is nothing less than the practice of dying. By rejecting passive wr

On the Pythagorean Life (De Vita Pythagorica)

This work presents Pythagoras not merely as a mathematician, but as a semi-divine reformer who sought to align human life with the order of the cosmos. It details a rigorous path of purification through music, diet, and strict communal ethics. Readers will encounter a tradition that treats education

Life of Pythagoras (Iamblichus)

In this classic translation by Thomas Taylor, Iamblichus presents Pythagoras as a semi-divine figure whose 'Pythagoric Life' serves as a blueprint for human excellence. The text moves beyond simple biography to synthesize ancient mysteries from Egypt and Babylon with a rigorous ethical framework tha

Select Works of Porphyry

Select Works of Porphyry offers a rigorous and poetic manual for spiritual transcendence that remains strikingly relevant today. Porphyry presents a radical defense of 'ethical vegetarianism,' arguing that the slaughter of animals is historically and spiritually linked to human warfare and moral dec

Ocellus Lucanus On the Nature of the Universe (Taylor 1831)

Ocellus Lucanus presents a rigorous defense of the eternity of the universe, arguing that the whole is indestructible even as its individual parts decay. By bridging the gap between celestial mechanics and human morality, the text positions procreation as a divine duty rather than a pursuit of pleas

Complete Works of Aristotle

Plotini Opera Omnia cum Ficini commentariis

Plotini Opera Omnia represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, blending the original 3rd-century mystical insights of Plotinus with the intellectual fire of the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino. This text serves as a rigorous bridge between the classical logic of Plato and the burgeoning

Complete Works of Aristotle (Aristotelis Opera Omnia)

Aristotle’s 'Rhetoric' is far more than a manual for oratory; it is a profound exploration of human psychology and the ethical foundations of social life. By defining rhetoric as the counterpart to dialectic, Aristotle elevates persuasion from mere emotional manipulation to a structured art based on

Works of Plato

Plato’s 'The Laws' represents a monumental shift in the philosopher's journey, moving from the idealism of his youth toward a rigorous, practical exploration of legislation and social order. Translated by George Burges in 1880, this edition provides a meticulous 'literal version' that preserves the

Ethica Nicomachea

In 'Ethica Nicomachea,' Aristotle shifts philosophy from the heavens to the earth, asking one central question: What is the highest good for a human being? He argues that happiness (Eudaimonia) is not a fleeting emotion or a gift from the gods, but a rigorous 'activity of the soul' that requires a l

The Dialogues of Plato (Jowett Translation)

This monumental work brings together the brilliance of Plato and the rigorous scholarship of B. Jowett, the Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford. By presenting Plato’s theories alongside comprehensive analyses and introductions, Jowett provides a bridge between the Classical Athenian Academy and mode

Rhetoric and Poetics

This book provides a manual for human influence. Aristotle argues that being able to defend yourself with speech is a fundamental requirement of human life. He separates the art of rhetoric from the morality of the speaker. You will learn how to read your audience, predict their reactions, and frame

Phaedo

The Phaedo captures the final conversation of a man facing his own execution with absolute calm. Socrates argues that the philosopher spends their entire life preparing for death because the body acts as a prison for the truth. He maintains that true knowledge belongs only to the soul, which must ev

Works of Aristotle (Vol. 2)

This text provides a direct look at Aristotle's natural philosophy as he connects the material world to human behavior. He argues that plants, animals, and humans follow consistent physical laws governed by heat, moisture, and motion. By examining everything from the optics of shadows to the mechani

The Republic

Most people act justly only because they fear the consequences of getting caught. Plato guts this assumption by creating a theoretical city where justice is defined not by laws, but by the internal harmony of the individual soul. He argues that political stability requires rulers who hate power and

Works of Plato (Republic, Timaeus, Critias)

Plato, the architect of Western philosophy, invites readers into a series of intellectual battles that remain startlingly modern. In these pages, he dismantles the cynical view that 'might makes right' and proposes a revolutionary vision of an ideal state where gender is no barrier to leadership and

Plato: Laches, Protagoras, Meno, Euthydemus

Plato’s dialogues remain the standard for critical thinking because they force the reader to defend their own assumptions. This collection captures Socrates at his most agile, moving from the definition of courage to the nature of knowledge itself. You will see him challenge the Sophists, whose reli

Works (Laws, Definitions)

The Rhetoric, Poetic, and Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle

In this essential pillar of Western philosophy, Aristotle argues that happiness (Eudaimonia) is not a passive feeling but an active 'energy of the soul' guided by virtue. He makes the bold claim that we are not born virtuous; rather, we become what we repeatedly do, carving our character through the

The Golden Verses of Pythagoras

This work restores the Golden Verses of Pythagoras to their status as tools for spiritual and moral development. D'Olivet challenges the modern view of art by insisting that poetry is a vehicle for divine truth rather than mere aesthetic arrangement. He maps the path of the soul from purgation to un

The Enneads of Plotinus Vol. I

The Enneads of Plotinus, translated with poetic intensity by Stephen McKenna, stands as the foundation of Neoplatonism and a bridge between classical Greek logic and Western mysticism. Plotinus offers a bold metaphysical hierarchy—The One, the Intellectual-Principle, and the Soul—arguing that our tr

Plato: Statesman and Philebus

Plato does not merely lecture; he forces his readers to think alongside his characters. In these texts, he argues that the best kind of power is not found in static codes but in the flexible, living intelligence of the expert. He dismantles the idea that pleasure or intellect alone can anchor a huma