SOURCE: “Pity in the Life and Thought of Plotinus,” in Plotinus amid Gnostics and Christians, edited by David T. Runia, VU Uitgeverij / Free University Press, 1984, pp. 53-72.

In the following essay, originally presented as a lecture, Ferwada considers the question of whether Plotinus showed inconsistency in the matter of pity.

When you have gone beyond giver and gift and recipient, you have reached compassion.

Buddhist saying

Plotinus is a difficult philosopher. This I know from personal experience. But it is not my intention to let that show this afternoon. What I want to do today is put before you a number of straightforward texts from the Enneads, preceded by two texts (also not too complicated) from Porphyry's biography.¹ Let us start with a text in Porphyry Vita Plotini 9:

Many men and women of the highest rank, on the approach of death, brought him [Plotinus] their children, both boys...