The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Syrian philosopher noted for his mathematical commentaries. A student and close associate of Plotinus (205-270), the founder of Neoplatonism, Porphyry tried to bring together the ideas of Plato (427-347 B.C.) and Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). His commentary on the latter's Categories influenced the development of logic, while his writing on the Elements of Euclid (c. 325-c. 250 B.C.) apparently provided Pappus (fl. c. 320) with a principal source. Porphyry also wrote a biography of Pythagoras (c. 580-c. 500 B.C.) Among his students was Iamblichus (fl. c. 320), who took a very different, and less scientific, approach to mathematics than his teacher.