Plotinus

About Plotinus

Plotinus (203–270 CE) was a highly significant Neoplatonist philosopher whose teachings fundamentally shaped the trajectory of later Western and Islamic thought. As the founder of the philosophical school of Neoplatonism, his central contribution was synthesizing the ideas of Plato with elements from Aristotle and other philosophical traditions, culminating in his major work, the Enneads, compiled posthumously by his student Porphyry. MIT’s Pantheon project ranks him #863 in historical importance, reflecting his profound, if sometimes indirect, influence on theology, metaphysics, and ethics across centuries.

In terms of modern digital attention, Plotinus receives a moderate but relatively balanced amount of interest. With 207K Wikipedia views in 2025, his Attention Gap ratio is calculated at approximately 1x, meaning his current internet visibility roughly aligns with his historical ranking. This stands in notable contrast to figures like Evangelista Torricelli (#495 importance) who garner significantly less traffic. Furthermore, Plotinus shows a positive trajectory, with a 13.3% year-over-year increase in views and a strong 30% momentum boost between the first and third quarters of 2025, suggesting a growing, albeit modest, contemporary curiosity.

Plotinus's work is foundational to understanding post-classical philosophy, particularly its intersections with religious thought, which may connect to broader religious studies. While his direct connection to specific modern topics is limited, his influence on thinkers who dealt with concepts similar to those in early Eastern thought is notable.