Platonisierende Strömungen außerhalb der Schulen

In late antiquity, the influence of Platonic philosophy extended far beyond the schools of the Platonists, in intellectual currents such as Hermeticism, Gnosticism, Jewish biblical exegesis (especially Philo of Alexandria, c. 20 BC c. 45 AD), and Christian theology. These currents share features with late antique Platonism, such as the distinction between an intelligible and a sensible realm. It is unclear whether Plotinus had knowledge of Philo’s work. We do not find direct references to Hermeticism or the Hermetic writings in Plotinus’ work either, but there are some striking similarities with passages from these writings. Also missing from the Enneads are direct statements about Christianity and Christian positions. However, some passages have been interpreted as attacks on Christian teachings (as in Ennead III.6.6.72–77 concerning the resurrection of the soul with the body). Plotinus dealt however intensively with the Gnostics in the so-called Great Treatise, which consists of Enneads III.8, V.8, V.5 and II.9. However, it is the Ennead II.9 that clearly strikes the most polemical tone against the Gnostics.