15 - Virtue and Happiness

Summary

Plotinus has two treatises on the central notions of ancient ethics, named by Porphyry On Virtues (peri aretôn) and On Happiness (peri eudaimonias). Both are found in Ennead 1 but they are not chronologically related. The study on virtues (Enn. 1.2) belongs to the earlier half of the treatises (no. 19) and was written between 253 and 264, while the treatise on happiness (Enn. 1.4) dates from the last year and a half in Plotinus’ life. Scholars have debated about whether Plotinus’ reflections on virtue and happiness amount to a consistent ethics that has something to offer for everyday life.¹ I shall return to this question in the concluding section after considering the two treatises. It can be noted already that Porphyry’s title On Virtues (peri aretôn)² could lead us to expect a comprehensive and practical account of virtue in Enn. 1.2 but no detailed guidelines are given for particular situations. This might suggest that ethics is an entirely theoretical affair for Plotinus. However, Plotinus’ focus is narrower, and it would be premature to exclude practical concerns for a Plotinian virtuous person because of the scope of the treatise.