The Wisdom of Hypatia: Ancient Spiritual Practices for a More Meaningful Life (66 page)

315

316 additional reading

Books that treat Neoplatonism as a spiritual path for modern people include Tim Ad-

dey’s
Unfolding Wings: The Way of Perfection in the Platonic Tradition
and Brian Hines’
Return
to the One: Plotinus’s Guide to God-Realization
. Stoicism as a practical philosophy is presented in several recent books, including
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
by William B. Irvine and
The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results
by Tom Morris.
Epicurean Simplicity
by Stephanie Mills celebrates modern Epicurean living with an ecological orientation.
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern
, by Stephen Greenblatt, is a good, recent appreciation of Lucretius.

There are a number of good introductions to Neoplatonism from an academic per-

spective (i.e., history and analysis rather than practice). Most recent is
Neoplatonism
by Pauliina Remes (2008). R. T. Wallis’s
Neoplatonism
(1995) is a new edition of a classic history of Neoplatonic philosophy.

There are several collections of readings to give a taste of Neoplatonism, including
Neoplatonic Philosophy: Introductory Readings
, edited by John Dillon and Lloyd P. Gerson, which they intend as a companion to Wallis, but some of the selections are quite technical.

Another collection is
The Neoplatonists: A Reader
, edited by J. Gregory, and an older one is
Select Passages Illustrating Neoplatonism
, translated by E. R. Dodds.

To learn more about Stoicism, I highly recommend
The Inner Citadel
by Pierre Hadot, which focuses on Marcus Aurelius. Most of Marcus’
Meditations
are excellent reading; I usually recommend skipping Book I on a first reading. However, it is worth reading eventually, since it expresses Marcus’ gratitude toward his teachers, friends, and family, and shows us the personality traits he considered most praiseworthy. The
Meditations
can be a lifetime companion, but don’t forget it is just Marcus’ commonplace book; you should be compiling your own, which can be just as worthwhile.

At the present time there are at least two web site with good selections of Epicurean texts:
Epicurus.info—Epicurean Philosophy Online
> and
Epicurus
and Epicurean Philosophy
<
http://www.epicurus.net
> (both accessed March 31, 2012). I am very grateful to Erik Anderson for his permission to use many of his translations from Epicurus.info. Epicurus’ four-page-long
Letter to Menoeceus
is an excellent summary of his ethics (Oates, pp. 30–3).

There are many useful symbol dictionaries. Anthony Stevens’
Ariadne’s Clue
is especially good, since it is written from the perspective of evolutionary Jungian psychology.

There have been a number of fictional treatments of Hypatia. As the most famous

female intellectual of the ancient world, who came to a tragic end, and about whom we additional reading 317

know relatively little, her history is an attractive frame around which authors can weave their stories. Best known is Charles Kingsley’s 1853 novel,
Hypatia: Or New Foes with an
Old Face
. It is widely available in reprint editions and online. Kingsley was a historian, and when he began his book he intended it as nonfiction, so in broad terms it is quite accurate.

Nevertheless, it is a novel, and so he did not shy away from embellishing Hypatia’s story whenever it suited his literary and ideological needs (as reflected in his subtitle). His fabrications are discussed by Dzielska, who reviews the whole Hypatian literary tradition, and by Deakin. In any case, Kingsley’s
Hypatia
is entertaining and informative, for a Victorian novel, provided you don’t forget you are reading fiction.

Glossary

The following are short definitions of terms that appear frequently. For a fuller explanation, look them up in the index. If a glossary item refers to another glossary entry, the cross-reference is shown like this.

Analytical Psychology:
Jungian psychology.

Archetype:
In Jungian psychology, dynamic structures in the unconscious mind, common to all humans, which are the psychical aspects of instincts, and govern human perception, motivation, and action. Correspond to Platonic Ideas or Forms and to polytheistic gods.

Awakening:
The prelude to the Ascent proper, which involves recognition of the desire to ascend.

Ascent:
A series of spiritual practices aimed at achieving Divine Union or Deification. The pre-paratory practice is Awakening, followed by the Ascent proper in three stages: Purification, Illumination, and Perfection.

Becoming:
The familiar material world, in which everything is in flux (coming to be and passing away); contrasted with the realm of Being, where truths are timeless.

Being:
The timeless realm of Platonic Ideas or Forms, in which things either are or are not; contrasted with the realm of Becoming (the material world), which things are constantly coming to be and passing away.

Cardinal Virtue:
See Virtue.

319

320 glossary

Chaldean Oracles:
A collection of sacred verses allegedly revealed to Julian the Chaldean and his son Julian the Theurgist in the second century CE as a result of their theurgical operations.

They were treated as scripture by the Neoplatonists, but survive only in fragments.

Collective Unconscious:
In Jungian psychology, the unconscious psychical structures common to all humans, comprising all the archetypes.

Complex:
In Jungian psychology, an unconscious network of ideas, images, feelings, and behavioral dispositions that form, during an individual’s life, around an archetypal core, and adapt that archetype to the individual. Complexes, which are normal components of the unconscious mind, can act as autonomous inner personalities (daimons).

Cosmic Body:
The physical body of the universe, the fourth emanation from The One and the lowest level of the Neoplatonic cosmos, corresponding in the Macrocosm to the human body in the Microcosm. The Cosmic Body is the realm of Becoming. Also called the World Body.

See Ch. 8.

Cosmic Mind:
See Cosmic Nous.

Cosmic Nous:
The first emanation from The One in the Neoplatonic cosmos, corresponding in the Macrocosm to the human nous in the Microcosm. The Cosmic Nous is the realm of Being, which contains the Platonic Forms or Ideas. Also called the World Nous. See Ch. 8.

Cosmic Soul:
The second emanation from The One in the Neoplatonic cosmos, corresponding in the Macrocosm to the human soul in the Microcosm. The Cosmic Soul is intermediate between the Cosmic Mind and the Cosmic Body, bringing the Platonic Forms or Ideas into manifestation in space and time. Also called the World Soul. See Ch. 8.

Daimon:
A spirit intermediate between a god and a human, mediating between gods and humans.

Correspond to psychological complexes. See Ch. 9.

Deification:
The process of becoming godlike, so far as possible for mortals, which, in some sense, is the goal of all ancient philosophies. Specifically, deification is the final stage of the spiritual Ascent, also known as Perfection or Union.

Demiurge:
The creator god (who is not, incidentally, the highest god) is called the Demiurge (Craftsman) in Plato’s
Timaeus
.

Depth psychology:
Primarily Jungian psychology, with its focus on the unconscious mind, especially the collective unconscious.

Embodied psychology:
Contemporary approach to psychology which stresses the essential role that the body plays in psychological processes.

glossary 321

Enneads:
The writings of Plotinus are organized into six
Enneads
(groups of nine).

Epicureanism:
Teaches how tranquility and happiness may be obtained by governing desires. The First Degree of Wisdom.

Fate:
In the context of Neoplatonism, Fate refers to the operation of purposeless, random, accidental, or meaningless processes in the universe. Contrasted with Providence.

Form:
See Idea.

Garden, The:
Nickname for Epicureanism.

Gnosticism:
A religious movement, generally considered an early Christian heresy, which focuses on intuitive or mystical knowledge (Grk.,
gnôsis
) as a means of spiritual Ascent and salvation.

Grove, The:
Nickname for Platonism.

Guiding Principle:
The power of conscious judgment and free choice, the higher soul of Stoicism.

Hedonism:
The theory that pleasure is the ultimate good and standard of morality.

Hermetic:
Refers to the spiritual practices traditionally attributed to the divine sage Hermes Trismegistus.

Idea:
In Platonic philosophy, an Idea or ideal Form is the eternal and perfect principle of some class of objects (e.g.,
Triangle
of triangles,
Gold
of pieces of gold,
Beauty
of beautiful things,
Horse
of horses).

Illumination:
The second stage in the Ascent proper, involving contact with the archetypal Ideas.

Impassive:
Not suffering emotions or feelings; tranquil.

Impulse:
The impetus, cause, or inclination to an action in Stoic ethics.

Indefinite Duality:
The first emanation from The One, which is no longer simple, but is still undifferentiated and indefinite. Also, the power by which unity expands into diversity and multiplicity. See ch. 8.

Indeterminate Mind:
The ground of mind that has the potential for containing Ideas, but from which Ideas have not emerged (see ch. 8).

Individuation:
In Jungian psychology, the lifelong process of developing toward psychological completeness, integration, and authenticity.

Jungian Psychology:
The psychological theories originated by C. G. Jung, also known as depth psychology and analytical psychology.

Kabbalah:
Jewish mystical tradition.

322 glossary

Logos:
A Greek word with a complicated meaning, about which books have been written. Often translated “word,” its meaning encompasses various kinds of articulated thought (speaking, reasoning, explanations, calculations, principles, causes) and, more generally, the rational or orderly principle of anything, whether an explanation in speech or thought, or an active organizational principle.

Love (Abiding, Providential, Returning, Mutual):
As a universal force, Love obeys the Triadic Principle. It is
Abiding Love
when it remains in itself. It is
Providential Love
when it proceeds into lower levels, organizing them. It is
Returning Love
when the lower levels look back to their origin as a source of harmony. It abides within the multiplicity of the lower levels as
Mutual Love
, the manifestation of this harmony.

Macrocosm:
The whole cosmos or universe as a model for the individual human viewed as a Microcosm. See Ch. 8.

Mandala:
A symmetrical, often circular, diagram representing the structure of cosmos and/or psyche.

Manichaeism:
The religion established by the Babylonian prophet and religious reformer Mani (c.216–276 CE). It is especially characterized by a duality of good and evil powers

Microcosm:
A human being, taken as a whole, as a miniature universe or cosmos (the Macrocosm). See Chs. 8–9.

Moral purpose:
In Stoicism, the commitment to act in accord with Stoic moral principles, which is the only inherent good (and its opposite, the only inherent evil).

Mysteries, The:
Refers to the mystery religions and initiations of the ancient world, in which esoteric spiritual practices and truths were revealed to initiates, resulting in their spiritual transformation.

Neoplatonism:
Platonism after about 245 CE, when Plotinus made many important contributions to its development. This is an academic term; ancient Neoplatonists called themselves simply

“Platonists.”

Neopythagoreanism:
The revival of Pythagoreanism in first two centuries CE, which was an important influence on Neoplatonism.

Nous:
The intuiting mind, which grasps the Ideas in their timeless relationships. Often, somewhat misleadingly, translated “mind” or “intellect.”

One, The:
The ultimate principle in Neoplatonism. It is the universal principle of unity, unifying the opposites, transcending even existence and non-existence, being and non-being. It is inde-glossary 323

finable in ordinary terms, and hence described as ineffable, inexpressible, unspeakable, etc. See Ch. 8.

Perfection:
The third and final stage of the Ascent proper, its goal, in which Divine Union or Deification is achieved. Perfection refers to psychological integration, not being flawless or faultless.

Physics
:
In ancient philosophy, the study of nature (
physis
) in the widest sense.

Platonism:
In the broad sense, Platonism is the philosophy originated by Plato (427–347 BCE) and its later developments.

Porch, The:
Nickname for Stoicism.

Providence:
The principle of intelligible order and purpose, both in the cosmos as a whole and in individuals. Contrasted with Fate.

Psychical:
As opposed to physical or material; refers to mind, soul, spirit, etc., both conscious and unconscious.

Purification:
The first stage in the Ascent proper, which is directed toward quieting the soul by turning it inward and away from the concerns of the body.

Pythagorean Golden Verses:
A 71-line verse summary of Pythagorean ethical principles attributed to Pythagoras, but probably dating to the fourth century BCE. Hierocles wrote an extensive
Commentary
on it.