Abstract

The article offers a critical analysis of the famous studies by Émile Bréhier of the philosophy of Plotinus. His book, published in French in 1928 and a series of later articles, along with two Wayne Hankey’s studies on Bréhier are now translated into Russian for the first time. I present an overview of A. S. Gagonin’s preface to the book and outline the content of the book chapter after chapter. I find it important to indicate the target audience of the book and the aspects in which it can still be useful to modern readers. Then I try to provide a critical analysis of Bréhier’s interpretation of Plotinus’ doctrine of Nous. Based on some modern Anglo-American studies of Plotinus’ philosophy I demonstrate that Bréhier’s evaluation of Plotinus’ doctrine of Nous, as “lifeless” and “heterogeneous” is too hasty. Similarly his still influential statement that the doctrine of Nous in Plotinus is confused with the doctrine of the One, and consequently not rooted in the genuine context of the Greek philosophy, can also be evaluated as a hasty judgment.