Iamblichus

In addition to his philosophical contributions, his Protrepticus is important for the study of the sophists because it preserved about ten pages of an otherwise unknown sophist, whose name is not mentioned and who is currently known as "Anonymus Iamblichi" ("Iamblichus's Anonymous").

Training under Anatolius of Laodicea and Porphyry is recorded. Sopater of Apamea, Dexippus (philosopher) and Aedesius are recorded as having studied under Iamblichus. The recorded working language is Ancient Greek. The field of work recorded is philosophy, Platonism and Pythagoreanism. Plato, Porphyry and Plotinus are recorded as an influence. Works named in the authority record are Geography and Life of Pythagoras.

• Region — Western philosophy • Era — Ancient philosophy • Name — Iamblichus • Other Names — Iamblichus Chalcidensis, Iamblichus of Chalcis, Iamblichus of Apamea • Born — c. 245 • Birthplace — Chalcis ad Belum, Coele Syria, Roman Empire • Died — c. 325 (aged c. 80) • School Tradition — Neoplatonism • Main Interests — Metaphysics, philosophical cosmology • Notable Ideas — Theurgy • Notable Works — On the Egyptian Mysteries • Academic Advisors — Anatolius of Laodicea, Porphyry • Notable Students — Aedesius, Dexippus, Sopater of Apamea, Theodorus of Asine

According to the Suda and Iamblichus's biographer, Eunapius, Iamblichus was born in Chalcis (later called Qinnašrīn) in Coele Syria, now in northwest Syria. Iamblichus was descended from the Emesene dynasty. He initially studied under Anatolius of Laodicea and later studied under Porphyry, a pupil of Plotinus (the founder of Neoplatonism). Iamblichus disagreed with Porphyry about theurgy, reportedly responding to Porphyry's criticism of the practice in On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians. He returned to Coele Syria around 304 to found a school in Apamea (near Antioch), a city known for its Neoplatonic philosophers. Iamblichus designed a curriculum for studying Plato and Aristotle, and wrote commentaries on the two which survive only in fragments. Pythagoras was his supreme authority, and he wrote the ten-volume Collection of Pythagorean Doctrines with extracts from several ancient philosophers; only the first four volumes and fragments of the fifth survive. Iamblichus wrote the Exhortation to Philosophy in Apamea during the early fourth century. Considered a man of great culture and learning, he was renowned for his charity and self-denial and had a number of students. According to Johann Albert Fabricius, he died sometime before 333 during the reign of Constantine the Great.

Iamblichus placed the Monad at the head of his system, from which emanates the Nous (intellect, or demiurge) and the psyche. Plotinus represented the Nous as three stages: objective being, subjective life, and realized intellect. Iamblichus divided them into two spheres: intelligible (the objects of thought) and intellective (the domain of thought). Iamblichus and Proclus may have introduced a third sphere between the two worlds, separating and uniting them. The identification of nous with the demiurge in the Neoplatonic tradition was adopted and developed in Christian gnosticism. Augustine of Hippo follows Plotinus, identifying the nous with logos (the creative principle) as part of the Trinity. Iamblichus multiplied the number of divine entities according to universal mathematical theorems. He conceived of gods, angels, demons and heroes: twelve heavenly gods (whose number increases to 36 or 360), 72 other gods proceeding from them, 21 chiefs and 42 nature-gods. His divine realm extends from the Monad to material nature, where the soul descends into matter and becomes embodied in human form. These superhuman beings influence natural events and communicate knowledge about the future, and are accessible with prayers and offerings. Iamblichus posited that numbers are independent, occupying a middle realm between the limited and unlimited. He believed that nature was bound by fate, differing from divine things which are not subject to fate and turn evil and imperfection to good ends; evil was generated accidentally in the conflict between the finite and the infinite.

Only a fraction of Iamblichus's books have survived; knowledge of his system is preserved in fragments of writings preserved by Stobaeus and others: notes by his successors (especially Proclus), his five extant books and sections of his work on Pythagoreanism. In addition to these, Proclus attributed to him the On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians, also known as The Theurgia or On the Egyptian Mysteries. Although stylistic and doctrinal differences exist between this book and Iamblichus's other works, it originated from his school at least. Iamblichus also completed a coherent polytheist theological system under the Egyptian pseudonym Abammon.