Ammonius Saccas | Neoplatonic philosopher | Britannica (original) (raw)
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contribution to Neoplatonism
In Western philosophy: Neo-Pythagoreanism and Neoplatonism Neoplatonism was established by Ammonius Saccas (fl. early 3rd century ce), who had been brought up as a Christian but had abandoned his religion for the study of Plato. Because Ammonius wrote nothing, his philosophy is known only through his famous disciple, Plotinus (205–270). But Plotinus did not publish… Read More
In Platonism: Plotinus and his philosophy …of a self-taught philosopher called Ammonius, who also taught the Christian Origen and the latter’s pagan namesake, and whose influence on his pupils seems to have been deep and lasting. But Ammonius wrote nothing; there are few reports of his views, and these are unreliable so that nothing is actually… Read More
role in Roman Empire
In ancient Rome: Cultural life from the Antonines to Constantine …religious mysticism: under the Severans, Ammonius Saccas created the school of Alexandria, and his disciple Plotinus founded the Neoplatonist school, which was to fight bitterly against Christianity. After the apologists and, above all, Tertullian (c. 160–after 222), Christian thought deepened, and theology made its appearance. Clement and Origen (c. 185–_c._… Read More
association with
Origen
In Origen: Life …Origen attended lectures given by Ammonius Saccas, the founder of Neoplatonism. A letter of Origen mentions his “teacher of philosophy,” at whose lectures he met Heraclas, who was to become his junior colleague, then his rival, and who was to end as bishop of Alexandria refusing to hold communion with… Read More
Plotinus
In Plotinus: Origins and education …to hear the self-taught philosopher Ammonius “Saccas.” When he had heard Ammonius speak, Plotinus said, “This is the man I was looking for,” and stayed with him for 11 years. Read More
